Playing the 'weight'ing game - What's to come in F1 in 2026

Formula 1 is a constantly changing game. That's what makes it such an interesting and competitive sport year-on-year.

This season is already off to an exciting (and somewhat controversial!) start and it's harder than ever to call which team will come out on top.

But we're not talking about this season here. What we're focusing on is what's to come in the near future. 2025 is the final season under the current rule cycle, so 2026 looks set to be a season that can be make or break for many teams in Formula 1. One of the biggest changes coming looks to be around the weight of the cars!

It's no secret that F1 teams are constantly looking to make their cars lighter without sacrificing structural integrity. With the 2026 regulations including changes to the power unit that adds more weight - the change being towards 100% sustainable fuel units - there's an even greater focus on shaving off extra weight from the chassis to off-balance this heavier power unit. There needs to be as much as 30kg taken away from the chassis; a tough ask that requires elite-level engineers to pull off.

So, who are these elite-level engineers that F1 companies now need to have in place?

We've seen quite high demand for Composite Engineers over the last 18 months. With up to 80% of an F1 car being made of composite materials, and these components often being among the most technical parts of a car, it should be no surprise that Composite Engineers are needed to build cars under the new regulations for 2026.

Composite materials also tend to be in areas that have a huge impact on the aerodynamics of the car. Aeroelasticity to be specific has become a huge focus for teams as of recent. Let's give an example. Red Bull's front wing endplates have been recorded as deflecting by as much as 24mm when under high loadings. That's an incredibly impressive stat, and helps give their cars a minuscule advantage which could be enough to gain a few extra crucial podium spots.

Naturally when you're trying to make a car lighter, aerodynamics are important. Because of this, we're seeing F1 teams take their hiring of Aerodynamicists very seriously. These are the people who can help optimise car performance under the revised rules and could make or break the success of any overhauls that are happening. So naturally, they are looking for the best. And they are willing to pay a healthy financial package to secure their services.

Aerodynamics and the weight of the vehicles are receiving a huge overhaul come 2026, and teams have been making the appropriate changes for some time now. Who do you think will be the major winners (and losers) from these changes?

And if you're interested in seeing what a typical salary package looks like for those working in Chassis Engineering, you'll want to check out our Salary Report for 2025. You can download that for FREE right here: https://www.fmctalent.com/gated-blog/f1-chassis-engineering-salary-report-2025