Overview
- Formula 1’s World Motor Sport Council signed off temporary operational changes for 2026, including a one-year rise in permitted trackside staff from 58 to 60 before reverting in 2027.
- Pre-season running grows to three tests for 2026: a private shakedown at Barcelona on January 26-30 followed by Bahrain tests on February 11-13 and 18-20, with a return to a single test from 2027.
- On sprint weekends, FP1 can be extended at the race director’s discretion after an early red flag to preserve a full hour of practice, a tweak limited to the six sprint events.
- Rules were refined for driver‑adjustable bodywork usage, wet sprint qualifying tyre limits remain in place, race suspension and restart procedures were simplified, and the F1 rulebook was reorganized into Sections A–F.
- The updates require F1 Commission ratification, as teams finalize programmes for cars featuring no DRS, movable wings and an electrical push‑to‑pass with roughly 50% hybrid power.