2025 season is ending - what skills will be needed for 2026?

The 2025 F1 season is drawing to an end, but the teams certainly aren't resting on their laurels ahead of 2026…

It's been an entertaining season once again that's been full of twists and turns, figuratively and literally. The early dominance from McLaren was mighty impressive and their Constructors' championship win has been a foregone conclusion for some time now. But, as of the time I am writing this blog, the Drivers' championship has somehow been dragged down to the final race. A mix of classic Max Verstappen brilliance and an inconsistent Piastri (as well as the double disqualification in Las Vegas and a poor strategy call in Qatar!) has left it all to play for in Abu Dhabi!

Whilst I could sit and write down my thoughts on the 2025 season and the gripping finale all day, that's not what we're here for today. The end of the 2025 season is in touching distance, but the start of the 2026 season isn't exactly a million miles away. And with the widely documented changes to the rules cycle coming to fruition this upcoming season, teams are going to be on the hunt for new skills over the coming years to find a new competitive edge. These are the skills we expect to be most in demand across the market.

Engineering & Chemistry

You may look at this subheading and think, 'why have these two been paired together? ' But let me explain my reasoning. Power units are getting a big makeover for this upcoming season - this is definitely the area of the cars that will have changed the most between seasons. The new regulations state that power units will have to run on 100% sustainable materials, mainly consisting of carbon from the atmosphere and general waste.

Understanding the chemical reaction from sustainable fuel and how it will impact engine performance will prove to be invaluable in the upcoming seasons, so people with this understanding will hold a strong position in the job market. On top of this, an appreciation of compliance and regulations around what is considered 100% sustainable will again be a crucial skill in any team.

Electrification

As well as running on sustainable fuel, the power units in cars are also receiving a huge boost in electric power - close to a 300% increase! The main difference this will bring to the vehicles themselves is a greater braking power, and (in principle) should help to bring more opportunities for overtaking in races and an overall better race between the drivers.

Due to this huge increase in electrical power, the skills and knowledge to translate this power into competitive advantage during races is hugely important. Candidates with experience working with electric systems, think the likes of Formula E and eventually the new FG series, will be in high demand in the coming years. For more junior positions in an F1 team, having knowledge of battery management and energy recovery from other industries or University will also put you in good stead for a job in the near future.

Aerodynamics

The other major change coming into play from the 2026 season is the weight of the vehicles. Teams are expected to reduce the weight of cars to 768kg - a 30kg reduction overall - no small feat for the engineering teams. With the new power units also expected to be heavier than the existing crop, there has been a huge emphasis placed on trimming down the chassis. Again, the rationale behind these changes is to create a more competitive race environment with the reduction in weight increasing the agility of cars.

Naturally, when making your car lighter, aerodynamics are of utmost importance. We've already seen F1 teams take the hiring of their Aerodynamicists very seriously over this last year as they prepare for the new season, but as teams grow into this new ruleset over the coming years, we don't expect the demand for great Aerodynamicists to slow down anytime soon. If you have previous experience or a strong working knowledge of aerodynamics, this is a great time to be looking for a job in F1.
 
We expect these rules to be a major talking point over the 2026 season. Which teams will get to grips with them the quickest? Which teams might be lagging behind? I'm sure we will find out very quickly once the new season starts!
 
Source: https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/fia-unveils-formula-1-regulations-for-2026-and-beyond-featuring-more-agile.75qJiYOHXgeJqsVQtDr2UB