The rules revolution introduced by the FIA for the 2026 season has produced not only less bulky single-seaters, but above all cars radically redesigned in their lower aerodynamics. The long Venturi channels underneath have disappeared, making way for a stepped floor with diffusers limited to the rear-axle area. While with the “ground-effect cars” all teams were forced to exploit the 360 cm wheelbase limit to maximize the length of the Venturi channels, on the cars we were finally able to observe up close in Bahrain this requirement has disappeared, because the area responsible for generating downforce from the floor is now limited and identical for everyone.
Moreover, with the drastic weight reduction and the complexity of the new power units, the overall length of the car has become one of the factors to consider during the design phase in order to save weight. We are therefore seeing very different single-seaters again, featuring unprecedented solutions in various areas, including wheelbase dimensions, which have been reduced by 20 cm by rules. This was an evaluation that would have been pointless based on official images, which are always retouched before being released. In Bahrain, however, with the help of specially taken photos and thanks to teamwork with Camillo Morande — the creator of my animations in past years — we produced a comparison between the “top of the class” cars.
The 3D analysis confirmed what had been the first visual impression with the McLaren MCL40 holding the palm of the shortest single-seater. We used to do this study at the Hungarian GP until the ’24 season, and today I can reveal a secret because this possibility no longer exists. The renovation of the circuit last year effectively eliminated the press room above the pits and therefore also the terrace that was perfectly on top of the area dedicated to technical scruteneering. A “secret” area that was very useful for taking photos that all looked the same.
The position of the various cars was inevitably the same, having to centre the 4 fixed scales. A much easier job of checking, compared to the one done with photos taken on the track here in Bahrain. At Budapest I just had to be patient and wait for the various cars to go to the weigh station. But let’s go back to when it emerged by analysing the first 5 cars. The surprise came from McLaren, the MCL40 is over 10 cm shorter than the 340 cm wheelbase limit.
Red Bull, Aston Martin, Mercedes and Ferrari are in the order at the maximum limit allowed with minimal differences. The comparison also shows that the position of the driver, in relation to the front axle, is practically the same except for Red Bull. On the RB 22, the cockpit is closer to the front axle while all other 4 cars have the axle further away in order to move the turbulence generated by the wheels away from the start of the side pods. With the 2026 cars, playing with the “rake” to maximise the potential of the cars is back in vogue. However, its assessment becomes more difficult because it depends on many variables: the particular set-up at the time, the phase in which the photo was taken, the fuel load. However, a quick analysis showed that the car with the most obvious “rake” was the Aston Martin followed by the Red Bull.
