F1 boss warns 2026 rules will “shatter” the grid and trigger a massive shake‑up
Formula 1 is bracing for a seismic reset in 2026. CEO Stefano Domenicali says the new regulations will completely disrupt the competitive order.
It might sound like an exaggeration to call what’s coming to Formula 1 a “revolution,” but that’s exactly how the sport is framing the massive rule changes set to debut in 2026.
The championship has already teased the overhaul with new images and concepts, and insiders insist the shift will be dramatic — a shake‑up big enough to upend the competitive order that defined the ground‑effect era. That’s been the message from the start, and F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali is doubling down on it.
Unpredictability in 2026
The Italian executive is convinced the new regulations will completely scramble the performance hierarchy, and he laid it out clearly in a column for F1i.com.
“The form book will be ripped up. The pecking order will be up in the air. And at the end of the day, the track will show where all the teams stack up. I’m pretty sure where you will rank in the first race, won’t be where you rank at the end of the year, so fast and intense will be the development race.”
Ultimately, the asphalt will tell the story, but Domenicali has no doubt that “F1 is entering an exciting moment,” and he says the sport won’t stop pushing forward with bold ideas. “Growth is strong, and everyone is asking, ‘What’s next?’ We will continue to propose ideas that are not conventional – and try to reach a dimension that was not traditionally born for F1..”
Still, he insists that every change must serve one purpose: better racing. For Domenicali, improving the on‑track product is the ultimate goal. “Of course, we want to keep the focus on racing. The sport is our beating heart and that is why there are new regulations coming next year. We will see brand-new cars with revised power units, which run advanced sustainable fuels.”
An “incredible” evolution
“This is my fifth year in my position and if I look back at the evolution we have had, it is incredible,” Domenicali says, adding that he’s “excited about the future” of F1 — especially when it comes to the calendar.
“Next year, Madrid will join the family, and we’re in talks with other countries that want to come onboard. Many want to be part of our program. We’re working hard to make the calendar more sustainable.”
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