Why the 2026 rules expose the perils of F1’s road car quest
OPINION: Formula 1's next generation engine rules for 2026 have lured in new manufacturers and led to a need for active aero. But the world championship taking a pioneering role in this dimension unintentionally suggests that its desire to maintain road relevance may not be without its perils
To justify and secure an existence amid the climate crisis, the professional motorsport world is bearing down on two goals. First, carbon neutrality to show everyone that at least these series don’t come at a cost. Second, reasserting racing as a live technical testbed for innovations that can soon enough trickle down into the wider road car industry to bring about a greater good.
Formula 1 – working to be net carbon zero by 2030 – has done well to repeatedly achieve the latter over the decades. See driver aids, semi-automatic gearboxes, carbon fibre construction and so on. Although these innovations didn’t necessarily all debut in the top flight, it’s where they cemented their pioneering, needle-moving reputation.
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.