Christian Horner did not chew his words during the press conference organized at Miami International Autodrome. The boss of the Red Bull stable was particularly critical in the face of reducing the minimum weight imposed by the FIA from the 2026 Formula 1 season. A threshold which he judges arbitrary and unrealistic.
“A number was out of nowhere for the weight of the car,” He said against journalists. “We have significantly heavier engines and a car weight that has been lowered. It will therefore be a huge challenge for all the teams to reach it. »»
After a gradual increase since 2009, where the minimum weight was 605 kg, the limit had peaked at 800 kg. In 2026, the FIA provides for a drastic fall with a weight fixed at 724 kg, to which will be added the nominal weight of tires, defined after winter tests according to new pirelli gums. These tires, like cars, will be of reduced dimensions.
Reduce weight, but at what price?
This drop, supposed to promote more agile single -seaters, is accompanied by new technical constraints. The FIA plans in particular to replace the titanium with steel for the flat bottom pads, after several incidents linked to the sparks that caused fire departures, to Suzuka and Shanghai.
For Horner, these arbitrations are expensive: “Save weight costs a colossal sum,” he explains. “There was a discussion last week on the introduction of steel skates-perhaps this would justify the addition of five kilos in the minimum weight. »»
Despite criticism, the Briton recognizes a universal truth in motorsport: “It’s like that, it’s the same for everyone. There will be choices to make to reach this weight, because the weight is free turn time. Each 10 kilos is about 0.35 seconds. »»
A shared but nuanced vision
At Mercedes, Toto Wolff shares the observation of difficulty, but supports the approach initiated by the FIA. “As Christian said, you make choices as a team. How long is you giving in turn to weight and ballast? Where do you want to save? »»he explains.
According to the Austrian director, this weight reduction is not only technical, but also strategic: “You can compromise other performance elements if you want to reduce your weight, or vice versa. This is a challenge. But the reason we do is to make cars more agile. Is it important? I think yes. You have to start somewhere. This first step is difficult, but it’s the same for everyone. »»
Nikolas Tombazis, director of single-seaters at the FIA, himself said in 2024 that this objective remained “Achievable”. A point of view that the stables do not completely share, faced with the harsh reality of aerodynamic calculations, the budget budget, and the new technical constraints to come.
