RaceSimStudios has released their concept of the 2026 Formula 1 cars based on the regulations for the sport's next-generation cars touted by the sport's governing body - the FIA - as "lighter, smaller, and more nimble.".
2025 is the final year of the current F1 rules set. For 2026 it is back to a blank canvas to design the future cars for the sport at the highest level, which teams are currently doing. Juggling the current season's program, soon to get underway, and developing a 2026 Formula 1 car, from the ground up, in tandem.
The coders at RaceSimStudios have come up with their simulated version of the 2026 F1 car based on the new FIA-devised regs and specifications for driving in the Assetto Corsa simulator game.
RaceSimStudios are among the best at crafting simulated cars from F1, F2, and F3-style cars, as well as GT3s based on current tintops in the latter series. The renderings in this piece were generated by the Kunos-created sim - Assetto Corsa - which benefits from a thriving mods market.
At first glance, the difference in size between the 2025 and 2026 cars will be noticeable, although not huge, while the ability to reduce weight towards the minimum requirements is one of the main concerns. However, the perceived dimensions will seem more in keeping with an F1 car.
In particular, the front wing is no longer full width, and the lower and narrower tyres help the visual impact; at the same time, the flow around the endplate and the wake from the front tire profile have changed completely.
According to AutoRacer.it: "We can evaluate the 2026 Formula 1 regulation change as a relief for the drivers in terms of driving comfort. The regulations have eliminated the danger of porpoising, and the correlation between tunnel and track should work better overall. We could go back to seeing cars tilted (rake setup) or more seated, but the issue was to limit the millimetric sensitivity of the heights."
The report adds: "The new cars will have a 'less' air-consuming floor inlet; at the same time, a large diffuser is no longer required. Normally the percentage of downforce required will be much greater above the floor, especially for driving through corners; with the drag reduction modes, it is possible to expect a range of wings from medium to high downforce."
Indeed, the RaceSimStudio Assetto Corsa-generated renders of the 2026 Formula 1 car on this page show a neat and compact car devoid of too many aero appendages, with the narrower front wing as an obvious standout in the new design.
RaceSimStudio says their 2026 F1 sim is available through their online store: "The Formula Hybrid X 2026 is our prototype range designed to provide our own interpretation of the ever-changing 2026 regulations.
"Featuring the latest hybrid technology, with up to 470 hp from the electric motor (with 532 hp from the internal combustion engine), combining power and efficiency with a sleek design. The 2026 Formula 1 car is by far our most detailed model to date, with expert optimisation to ensure its peak performance isn't being limited only to the track!"
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