Max Verstappen claims 30kg F1 car reduction will not make a difference in 2026

Max Verstappen affirmed that F1 needed more than just a 30kg reduction in chassis weight in the future.

Max Verstappen claims 30kg F1 car reduction will not make a difference in 2026

Max Verstappen (via IMAGO), 2026 new regulation car render (Formula 1)

The regulation changes for 2026 F1 season have finally been announced by the FIA. The new rules seem interesting and would bring about a lot of changes to the current competition on the grid. Notably, the chassis will witness a reduction in size for the first time ever. However, upon the shocking changes, Max Verstappen reckoned that they wouldn’t bring about much difference to the competition.

The size of the chassis will be greatly reduced and also the weight is supposed to be reduced at least by 30kgs in the new set of regulations. Max Verstappen claimed that such a small difference in weight won’t make a ‘difference’. Additionally, the reigning world champion highlighted that there should at least be a difference of at least 100-150kgs. In regards to how everything ran currently in Formula 1, such a minuscule change wouldn’t be very beneficial.

You need at least 100, 150 kilos. With how everything is, no. It's not possible.
Max Verstappen said, as reported by gpblog.com.
YouTube video

The battery and engine were very heavy and long and wide under the new set of regulations as well. However, expecting better results under the new set of regulations would be ‘wishful thinking’ according to Max Verstappen. Regardless, such changes were necessary to make the chassis more agile and a bit more fun for the drivers to drive around.

FS Video
That is also to do with the engine, right? Engine, battery related, it’s very heavy and long and wide. At the moment it's wishful thinking, but that is definitely what we need to make it more agile and probably a bit more fun.
Max Verstappen added.

Max Verstappen reckons that the ‘safety factor’ added more weight on the chassis

Formula 1 and FIA have constantly been trying to furthermore increase the safety of the one-seater chassis in the sport. FIA included multiple other changes to the regulations which will witness more overall safety of the car. Hence, Max Verstappen didn’t hesitate to acknowledge that increasing safety was one of the bigger concerns.

F1 2026 chassis render side view (via Formula 1)
F1 2026 chassis render side view (via Formula 1)

Max Verstappen claimed that adding safety to the challengers added a lot of extra weight to the car. Although this change was good, FIA would further need to do things a little bit differently. Regardless, everything came down to how the governing body wrote the regulations for the specific era.

Of course, safety added a lot of weight which of course is good, but I'm sure that we can do things a little bit differently, but it depends on the regulations that you write.
Max Verstappen concluded.

Hence, the new regulations from the 2026 season would be highly exciting for the sport. Red Bull could finally be dethroned from their dominant lead after Adrian Newey’s exit from the team. McLaren and Ferrari have been looking extremely strong against the dominant Red Bull’s pace in the season.

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