Double World Champion Fernando Alonso has raised doubts about the Formula 1 governing body, the FIA’s, ambition to cut 30 kilograms from the new 2026 Formula 1 cars, labeling it an “impossible target.” The FIA aims to reduce the weight of Formula 1 cars while also narrowing them by 100mm, but Alonso argues that the increased prominence of electrical energy on the engines could hinder this goal.
Challenges of Weight Reduction
In 2026, the revised powertrains are set to feature a 50/50 split between internal combustion engines and electric components, alongside a 120kW increase in overall battery output. Alonso, who has signed a deal to join Aston Martin for the upcoming regulation period, questions whether the sport can reach its weight reduction target, considering the additions to the engine.
“I think it’s probably impossible to achieve 30 kilos [of weight reduction] already,” the Spanish driver claimed. “If the power unit is 50% electric, you need the batteries to support that, so the cars will just increase 20 or 30 kilos because of the power unit. And then you want to reduce 30 [kg]? You need to drop 60 kilos of the current car, which is roughly the same as at the moment; probably to the teams, that’s an impossible target.”
Alonso concedes that Formula 1‘s best engineers might find a way to bridge the gap, stating, “they have two years to achieve that target, and, as always in F1, what seems impossible in 2024 will become a reality in 2026 because there are very clever people in the teams.”
Positive Outlook on Manual Override Mode
However, Alonso shared a more positive outlook on the forthcoming Manual Override Mode, set to replace the Drag Reduction System (DRS). The new feature will enable drivers to tap the full 350kW power from the MGU-K up to 337 kph while pursuing another car. The veteran driver draws a parallel with the old KERS system, saying, “It’s the same as before when we had six seconds of KERS; it would create overtaking opportunities, because sometimes you used it in different places in the corners and lap compared to the car in front, and vice versa.”
This freedom to strategize may appeal to Alonso’s fond memories of a more unrestricted era. “I think it should be easier perhaps,” he reflected. “A pure race and more linked to drivers, teams, and specific setup on each track brings back memories of greater freedom in Formula 1 car design – we’d see cars with six wheels.” The two-time world champ recalled the tyre war days between Michelin and Bridgestone in 2005, suggesting: “It could rain in Canada, and the Intermediate tyres could prove suitable for Bridgestone; it becomes a choice that drivers enjoy.”
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