Fernando Alonso speaks to the media.
The FIA announced its complete slate of Formula 1 2026 regulations, and while the cars might sound promising in practice, several drivers have already shared initial skepticism about how those rules will become reality.
Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso is one such driver. Speaking to media ahead of the 2024 Canadian Grand Prix, Alonso expressed skepticism about the alleged 30kg drop in weight. According to the Spaniard, that’s an “impossible target.”
Weight will increase due to ‘power unit,’ says Fernando Alonso
One of the significant enhancements and modifications expected in 2026 is a boost in electrical power. The power will be divided equally between an electric battery and an internal combustion engine, presenting a threefold surge in electric power compared to the current power units.
In the latest announcement by the FIA, it was disclosed that the cars’ wheelbase and width will be decreased, along with a 30% reduction in downforce and 55% decrease in drag. These alterations are aimed at facilitating overtaking opportunities.
However, the FIA has also suggested a desired reduction in weight of 30kg for the new car in comparison to the existing model.
F1’s 2026 regulations, explained:
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Speaking to media ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix, Alonso directly stated that “I think it is impossible probably to achieve 30 kilos already.
“If the power unit is 50% electric and you need the batteries to support that, cars will just increase 20 or 30 kilos because of the power unit. And then you want to reduce 30 [kg] — you need to drop 60 kilos of the current car, which is the same as at the moment, probably to the teams, an impossible target.”
Alonso acknowledged that the “clever individuals” responsible for designing these new machines might indeed be capable of presenting innovative solutions to these engineering difficulties, although he acknowledged that it will not be an easy task.
During a press gathering, Alex Albon from Williams expressed his wish for “engines that are simpler.”
Current automotive trends have seen a growth in the use of hybridization over full electric power; to remain on the cutting edge of technology, F1 obviously needs to follow the same path.
On the downside, the weight of batteries poses a challenge to the improved efficiency and power provided by hybrid powertrains. Engineers have been unable to find a straightforward solution to reduce their weight. Although the new powertrains offer a great chance for F1 innovation, it will not be a simple task.
Read next: Lewis Hamilton claims F1 2026 regs weight saving falls short with cars looking ‘pretty slow’
