FIA chief Nikolas Tombazis examines the current chassis regulations. Although there has been much criticism from the drivers about the current power units and energy management since the start of the season, the Greek executive believes that a step forward has been made in terms of the chassis. “We also need cars that are not exactly easy for my grandmother to drive,” says Tombazis, who immediately reveals the FIA’s next ambitious goal – “Cars eighty kilos lighter again.”
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For 2026, the FIA already set the goal that the cars should be lighter and smaller. Under the current chassis regulations, the cars are therefore ten cm narrower and the wheelbase is twenty cm shorter. The minimum weight is set at 768 kilograms, a decrease of 32 kilos compared to 2025. In addition, there is also less downforce. The FIA has thus achieved these objectives, but due to the ongoing discussion about energy management and power units, there has been little talk about this topic.
According to FIA chief Nikolas Tombazis – director of single-seaters – a step forward has indeed been made on the chassis side. “I probably think so, although you should never assume the work is done. But I do think cars can follow each other better,” Tombazis said in a conversation with a select group of media. According to the Greek, it is also less easy for teams this time to circumvent the regulations.
‘Cars my grandmother can’t drive’
That the drivers cannot handle the cars effortlessly is, according to the chief, a good sign. “They are still quite difficult cars for the drivers to drive, which I think is good, that they are not just cars that anyone can drive,” the chief continues. “Part of the aerodynamic rules push teams in the direction where they cannot tackle every individual aspect of a car through a corner, and therefore they do indeed have some challenges. I think that when we have the 22 best drivers in the world, we also need cars that are not exactly easy for my grandmother to drive.”
‘Eighty kilos lighter again’
Although Tombazis is satisfied with the chassis at the moment, the FIA chief wants to go further for the next regulations likely to come into effect in 2030 or 2031. “The cars are somewhat lighter and smaller, which the drivers have appreciated. Is that where I would want us to be now? No. I would want us to be eighty kilos lighter again, and maybe in the future a bit shorter and a bit smaller,” the chief shares his ambitions. “We want to move to the next step in lightness and also in weight, a significant step.”
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