Why ‘initial simulations’ of F1’s new 2026 car are really worrying after Lando Norris test

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The 2024 Formula 1 season is set for a brilliant ending and the next campaign in 2025 could be even more dramatic.

The regulations aren’t changing next year, meaning McLaren will be hoping they can maintain their advantage over the winter.

Red Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes will all be hoping they can close the gap, but the teams below them may already have at least one eye on what’s coming next.

The following campaign in 2026 is going to see sweeping changes made to the F1 ruleset.

New power units are being developed and cars are expected to look very different to deal with aerodynamic changes.

Another big difference will be the tyres and Pirelli are already testing with current teams and drivers to work on their next set of compounds.

A report from the German outlet Auto Motor und Sport has shared some information about simulations being done behind the scenes to prepare for 2026.

David Coulthard has outlined his concerns with the 2026 ruleset, while Martin Brundle has worried about the next era of Formula 1.

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about McLaren F1 Team from team principal to engine

Oscar Piastri is delighted that DRS will be going, but it sounds like things aren’t particularly positive when it comes to how fast the new cars are going to be.

Red Bull have criticised one aspect of the regulations and if simulations are to be believed, then the racing may not be as competitive as the FIA would be hoping for.

What ‘initial simulations’ are now saying about Formula 1’s new 2026 cars

Pirelli have already undertaken two tests of their proposed 2026 tyres.

The first took place in Barcelona with Felipe Drugovich racing a modified Aston Martin car to experiment with their new compounds.

Unfortunately, they ran into some issues that meant Drugovich had to complete some laps with his DRS permanently open to try and simulate how much downforce the new cars will have.

Lando Norris then ran the new tyres at a recent test in Mugello, with both Ferrari drivers and RB’s new signing Liam Lawson working on the 2025 compounds.

READ MORE: McLaren driver Lando Norris’ life outside F1 from parents to celebration

Norris was slower than one Ferrari driver on the new tyres, however, it’s impossible to know what engine modes and other set-up changes the teams had made to draw any real conclusions from their best times.

Pirelli’s 2026 tyres are smaller, although that’s unlikely to be particularly noticeable on the track.

However, AMuS go on to say that ‘initial simulations’ suggest that the pace of the cars will ‘drop significantly’.

The increased proportions of the new hybrid electric power units will make the cars less air resistant and they’ll therefore have to run with less downforce.

There have even been suggestions that some F1 cars have been spinning on the straights during simulations.

Pirelli kept the findings of the test to themselves, but it won’t be long until more information is revealed.

Martin Brundle ‘nervous’ about one proposed 2026 F1 car change

There’s a lot to look forward to over the course of the next year or so before the new cars are raced for the first time competitively in 2026.

A new champion could be crowned and McLaren might win their first Constructors’ Championship this century.

However, with Williams already working towards 2026 and Sauber waiting for Audi to take them over, next year might end up being split between teams who think they can be competitive, and teams who think they have a better chance when the playing field is levelled.

Brundle has admitted that he’s nervous about one proposed change coming in 2026 until he sees it in action.

That will be up to the current drivers to demonstrate and as Daniel Ricciardo and others have shown in recent years, being quick in one era of F1 doesn’t guarantee you’re fast in every era.