The advantage of Red Bull is diminishing.
According to Red Bull team principal Christian Horner, the upcoming Formula 1 regulations in 2026 will have a negative impact on the competitiveness of the sport. Horner warns that the new rules will completely disrupt the current state of affairs.
After the extremely one-sided 2023 Formula 1 season, the field has become incredibly tight, with only tenths of a second separating the top teams in the standings. Max Verstappen has shared victories with Carlos Sainz, Charles Leclerc, and Lando Norris, who consistently challenged Verstappen until the final lap on several occasions.
With one more year remaining in the current rules cycle, which brought one of the most significant changes to Formula 1 regulations in decades, the competition may become even tighter before the 2026 season introduces a wave of new F1 cars.
The 2026 changes will include a hybrid engine with a 50/50 power split, movable aerodynamics, and smaller dimensions, which will cause a seismic shift in Formula 1. Horner is concerned that these changes will eliminate the current level of fierce competition in the series.
After the Spanish Grand Prix, Horner expressed his thoughts, stating, “If we disregard 2023, we’re having an incredible year. 2023 was an anomaly, and what we’re experiencing now is normal for Formula 1. There are great teams, great drivers, and competition is expected. The stability of the regulations is beneficial as it always leads to convergence.”
“I vividly remember when I entered Formula 1, Ron Dennis said during a Commission meeting, ‘if you want close racing, leave it as it is, just leave it as it is, and everything converges.’ And that’s exactly what we’re witnessing at the moment – everything converging. But then we’re going to completely disrupt that for 2026.”
“No momento, estamos lutando duro por vitórias. Como equipe, temos que estar no topo do nosso jogo, e os pilotos têm que se sair excepcionalmente bem. Isso é a Fórmula 1, e é assim que deve ser.”
Horner is not the only one concerned about the potential impact of the 2026 regulations on the competitive order. Lando Norris, from McLaren, who has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of the current convergence, having beaten Verstappen in Miami and challenged him closely in Imola, Montreal, and Barcelona, shared his thoughts at the Canadian Grand Prix.
After Verstappen and George Russell recorded identical times in qualifying at the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, Norris warned: “Days like today won’t happen again. Red Bull had their time and now it seems like we’ve caught up to them. So, as soon as we’re getting there and probably already thinking about next year, next year will be exciting for everyone, from the front to the back of the grid. It’s going to be thrilling. But then everything will change in ’26.”
