The FIA has formally approved further amendments to the 2026 Formula 1 (F1) regulations following pre-season testing and detailed consultation with teams and power unit manufacturers. The changes, passed unanimously by e-vote of the World Motor Sport Council, focus primarily on compression ratio controls but also include targeted adjustments to sporting regulations.
Below is the full FIA statement:
Amendments to the 2026 FIA Formula 1 Regulations have been approved unanimously by e-vote by the World Motor Sport Council. Some aspects of the amendments were concurrently approved unanimously by the Formula One Power Unit Manufacturers.
The modifications to the Technical Regulations follow the pre-season tests in Barcelona and Bahrain and extensive feedback received from drivers and teams.
A significant effort has been invested in finding a solution to the topic of the compression ratio. This parameter, which was one of the key fundamental targets of these regulations in order to attract newcomers to the sport, is limited in the regulations to 16:1, measured in cold conditions.
The FIA has worked to find a compromise solution which determines that the compression ratio will be controlled in both hot and cold conditions from 1 June 2026, and subsequently only in the operating conditions (130deg C) from 2027 onwards.
The regulations introduced for 2026 represent one of the biggest changes in recent memory. All parties acknowledge that with the introduction of such significant regulatory changes, there are collective learnings to be taken from pre-season testing and the initial rounds of the 2026 championship.
Further evaluation and technical checks on energy management matters are ongoing.
Additional amendments to Sporting and Financial Regulations were approved. The revised regulatory documents have been published on fia.com.
Compression ratio clarified
The updated Technical Regulations now explicitly state that no engine cylinder may exceed a geometric compression ratio of 16.0, measured under defined conditions.
Until 31 May 2026, testers will measure the compression ratio when the engine is at ambient temperature. From 1 June 2026 to 31 December 2026, they will measure it both at ambient temperature and when the engine is at 130 degrees Celsius. From 2027 onwards, testers will assess compliance solely under operating conditions at 130 degrees Celsius.
The revised wording also prohibits any component, mechanism or integrated system designed to increase the compression ratio beyond 16.0 under operating conditions. Each power unit manufacturer must define the assessment procedure in line with FIA documentation, with approval required from the FIA Technical Department and inclusion in the homologation dossier.
This clarification directly addresses concerns that temperature differentials could allow teams to exploit grey areas between cold and hot measurements.
Adjustment to Qualifying format
The FIA has also amended the Sporting Regulations relating to Qualifying 3. After a seven-minute break, the Q3 session will now resume for thirteen minutes, rather than the previously stated twelve minutes. The ten remaining cars will be permitted on track during that period.
Although minor, this change ensures consistency in session timing and corrects the previously published duration.
Simplifying tyre regulations
Further changes remove Monaco-specific wording from the tyre usage regulations. The updated rule now requires each driver to use at least two different specifications of dry weather tyres during the race, unless they use intermediate or wet weather tyres, and at least one of these must be a mandatory dry weather race tyre specification.
The FIA has deleted the previous Monaco-specific requirement for three sets of tyres, simplifying and standardising the tyre rule across all events.
A regulation set still evolving
The 2026 FIA regulations represent one of the most substantial overhauls in F1, reshaping both chassis and power unit architecture. The compression ratio formed a core pillar of the new engine philosophy and played a role in attracting new manufacturers to the championship.
However, pre-season testing in Barcelona and Bahrain exposed areas requiring refinement. The FIA’s latest amendments reflect a willingness to adapt quickly while preserving the fundamental objectives of the new era.
With further evaluation of energy management systems ongoing, additional clarifications may follow. For now, the compression ratio framework has been tightened, qualifying timing adjusted and tyre rules streamlined as F1 prepares to enter its most transformative regulatory cycle in decades.
