F1 CEO, Stefano Domenicali is assured that the sector will shortly converge following the principles overhaul in 2026.
The 2 most up-to-date, vital overhauls led to 1 workforce dominating for a number of years earlier than their rivals started to catch them. Mercedes caught its rivals on the hop in 2014, whereas Crimson Bull had the benefit in 2022.
2024 noticed Crimson Bull lose out to McLaren within the constructor standings, the Austrian outfit slipping to 3rd as Ferrari additionally benefitted from the principles stability.
This 12 months we hope for extra of the identical, nonetheless the large overhaul in 2026 has many fearing that the game will see only one workforce or producer getting it proper as rivals are pressured to play catch-up but once more.
Not so, insists Domenicali.
“When there’s a new regulation it’s at all times like that,” he tells Autosprint. “I do not neglect that when the 2022 rules had been launched, the groups complained that the single-seaters can be six seconds slower.
“We arrived in 4 years at a really sturdy convergence,” he continues. “Now we begin once more with a unique regulation, with quite a lot of new challenges and various things to fine-tune.
“At the start we cannot have this type of hole it could be unrealistic to suppose that. However the best way the 2026 regulation is designed, the convergence will come.”
The 2026 overhaul is not restricted to the vehicles, which will likely be lighter, narrower and shorter, for the engine rules additionally change, with energy break up evenly between the ICE and the electrical elements, as the game seeks to develop into ever extra environmentally pleasant.
Mercedes bought the 2014 (engine) guidelines overhaul bang on, however once more Domenicali is assured of convergence, particularly with the finances caps in place.
“There are a lot of points that can develop,” he admits. “It’s regular that, from the standpoint of the groups, there’s a conservative method.
“I’m not frightened,” he insists. “A number of new constructors are coming in, favoured by these technological adjustments that serve to maintain the evolutionary and optimistic pressure of those that see our system as a improvement platform for the long run. We have to have a look at the entire image and never the element. We have to suppose large.”
