2026 CAR REGULATIONS: The 352 km/h "Invisible Wall"
Have you noticed? 🤔
Compared to last year, F1 race top speeds often approach 350 km/h but rarely exceed it: welcome to the '352 km/h Invisible Wall'! 👀
Overtake mode allows full 350 kW ERS deployment up to 337 km/h.
Above that, power drops sharply, down to 0 kW at 352 km/h.
Beyond that, only the ICE is working, with just ~550 hp!
• Up to 337 km/h: High acceleration, thanks to active aero and ~1000 hp.
• 337 → 352 km/h: acceleration drops massively, as drag power grows cubically with speed while power falls linearly.
• Above 352 km/h: ICE-only, not enough to accelerate!
Top speeds in Monza won't be much higher than 350km/h,
but Monza-like top speeds will be reached in many other tracks! 💡
Have you noticed? 🤔
Compared to last year, F1 race top speeds often approach 350 km/h but rarely exceed it: welcome to the '352 km/h Invisible Wall'! 👀
Overtake mode allows full 350 kW ERS deployment up to 337 km/h.
Above that, power drops sharply, down to 0 kW at 352 km/h.
Beyond that, only the ICE is working, with just ~550 hp!
• Up to 337 km/h: High acceleration, thanks to active aero and ~1000 hp.
• 337 → 352 km/h: acceleration drops massively, as drag power grows cubically with speed while power falls linearly.
• Above 352 km/h: ICE-only, not enough to accelerate!
Top speeds in Monza won't be much higher than 350km/h,
but Monza-like top speeds will be reached in many other tracks! 💡
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What if 2026 F1 Cars Had a V10 Engine?
Colapinto hit 352 km/h in the Chinese GP... on ICE power alone (~580 hp), since ERS deployment must drop linearly to 0 kW at exactly 352 km/h!
What if he'd had a V10 Mercedes engine? 🤔
The 2005 McL-Mercedes hit 'just' 340 km/h in China under slipstream despite ~930 hp, but 2026 cars have FAR less drag thanks to active aero.
With the same slipstream and a long enough straight, a V10-powered 2026 car could have reached ~410 km/h!
352 km/h × (930 hp / 580 hp)^(1/3) = 411 km/h
[Drag POWER scales with the CUBE of speed.]
If F1 moves to ~3000cc N/A engines for 2030, active aero will likely be dropped — otherwise top speeds would become crazy!
Colapinto hit 352 km/h in the Chinese GP... on ICE power alone (~580 hp), since ERS deployment must drop linearly to 0 kW at exactly 352 km/h!
What if he'd had a V10 Mercedes engine? 🤔
The 2005 McL-Mercedes hit 'just' 340 km/h in China under slipstream despite ~930 hp, but 2026 cars have FAR less drag thanks to active aero.
With the same slipstream and a long enough straight, a V10-powered 2026 car could have reached ~410 km/h!
352 km/h × (930 hp / 580 hp)^(1/3) = 411 km/h
[Drag POWER scales with the CUBE of speed.]
If F1 moves to ~3000cc N/A engines for 2030, active aero will likely be dropped — otherwise top speeds would become crazy!
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🇨🇦 CANADIAN GP | TYRES & TRACK PREVIEW
• Sprint weekend;
• Softest compounds (C3–C5);
• Braking grip & stability critical, traction very important, cornering secondary;
• High track evolution;
• Cooler than usual: graining could be an issue!
Engine power matters more here than at any track so far: Ferrari will struggle!
📸 @pirellisport
• Sprint weekend;
• Softest compounds (C3–C5);
• Braking grip & stability critical, traction very important, cornering secondary;
• High track evolution;
• Cooler than usual: graining could be an issue!
Engine power matters more here than at any track so far: Ferrari will struggle!
📸 @pirellisport
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2026 Car Regulations | No More Diverse Rear Wings?
In 2026, track layout dictates electric deployment strategy far more than wing design (unfortunately for us wing-nerds)! 💡
Canada used to demand a careful balance between low drag (long straights) and downforce (especially rear, for corner exit speed and tyre life). But as Tim Goss (Racing Bulls' CTO) explained, active aero gives you both: high downforce through the lap, low drag when needed.
A standard wing works almost everywhere! A 'default' deployment strategy, instead, will not. 🪫
Tim Goss' interview:
https://racingnews365.com/racing-bulls-key-signing-set-for-debut-as-fresh-f1-challenge-revealed
In 2026, track layout dictates electric deployment strategy far more than wing design (unfortunately for us wing-nerds)! 💡
Canada used to demand a careful balance between low drag (long straights) and downforce (especially rear, for corner exit speed and tyre life). But as Tim Goss (Racing Bulls' CTO) explained, active aero gives you both: high downforce through the lap, low drag when needed.
A standard wing works almost everywhere! A 'default' deployment strategy, instead, will not. 🪫
Tim Goss' interview:
https://racingnews365.com/racing-bulls-key-signing-set-for-debut-as-fresh-f1-challenge-revealed
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📊 CANADIAN GP - SPRINT QUALIFYING | QUALIFYING ANALYSIS
We know who was quickest... but WHY? 👀
🟩 RUS: Secured Sprint Pole aided by the highest top speed (333 km/h). Mercedes was actually SLOWEST in the fastest chicane!
Mercedes’ updates seem to have worked greatly, with significant gains throughout the laps. Let’s see whether this gets confirmed in the next sessions!
🟧 NOR: Couldn't stay full-throttle as consistently as others. Strong deployment, but had to save energy on the main straight.
🟥 HAM: Quickest in the fastest corner (+4km/h vs RUS; possibly the best downforce)! Great grip, but lacked power → Was often full throttle, and emptied battery on lap end (11km/h lost 🪫)!
🟦 VER: >0.5s away from pole; only clear weakness was traction.
We know who was quickest... but WHY? 👀
🟩 RUS: Secured Sprint Pole aided by the highest top speed (333 km/h). Mercedes was actually SLOWEST in the fastest chicane!
Mercedes’ updates seem to have worked greatly, with significant gains throughout the laps. Let’s see whether this gets confirmed in the next sessions!
🟧 NOR: Couldn't stay full-throttle as consistently as others. Strong deployment, but had to save energy on the main straight.
🟥 HAM: Quickest in the fastest corner (+4km/h vs RUS; possibly the best downforce)! Great grip, but lacked power → Was often full throttle, and emptied battery on lap end (11km/h lost 🪫)!
🟦 VER: >0.5s away from pole; only clear weakness was traction.
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📊 CANADIAN GP - SPRINT | TOP SPEED PER LAP
NEW 2026 TOP SPEED RECORD: HUL reached 357 km/h! 😲
To put in perspective how crazy that is: the rules forbid electrical deployment well before that speed! This means that he reached 357km/h... using the ~550hp of Audi's ICE! 🪫
He broke the 'invisible wall'!
NEW 2026 TOP SPEED RECORD: HUL reached 357 km/h! 😲
To put in perspective how crazy that is: the rules forbid electrical deployment well before that speed! This means that he reached 357km/h... using the ~550hp of Audi's ICE! 🪫
He broke the 'invisible wall'!
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Formula Data Analysis
📊 CANADIAN GP - SPRINT | TOP SPEED PER LAP NEW 2026 TOP SPEED RECORD: HUL reached 357 km/h! 😲 To put in perspective how crazy that is: the rules forbid electrical deployment well before that speed! This means that he reached 357km/h... using the ~550hp of…
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Formula Data Analysis
2026 CAR REGULATIONS: The 352 km/h "Invisible Wall"
Have you noticed? 🤔
Compared to last year, F1 race top speeds often approach 350 km/h but rarely exceed it: welcome to the '352 km/h Invisible Wall'! 👀
Overtake mode allows full 350 kW ERS deployment…
Have you noticed? 🤔
Compared to last year, F1 race top speeds often approach 350 km/h but rarely exceed it: welcome to the '352 km/h Invisible Wall'! 👀
Overtake mode allows full 350 kW ERS deployment…
📊 CANADIAN GP - SPRINT | SPRINT PACE ANALYSIS
NOR and the two Mercedes were on a league of their own!
PIA and the two Ferrari had good pace, but no chance of winning (0.3-0.4s/lap off NOR)!
VER was clearly the slowest among those in front: 0.17s/lap slower than HAM, 0.57s/lap off NOR!
✅ Best of the rest: Alpine
❌ Worst: Aston (STR lost over THREE SECONDS per lap!)
What's your take on the RUS/ANT clash?
NOR and the two Mercedes were on a league of their own!
PIA and the two Ferrari had good pace, but no chance of winning (0.3-0.4s/lap off NOR)!
VER was clearly the slowest among those in front: 0.17s/lap slower than HAM, 0.57s/lap off NOR!
✅ Best of the rest: Alpine
❌ Worst: Aston (STR lost over THREE SECONDS per lap!)
What's your take on the RUS/ANT clash?
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📊 CANADIAN GP - RACE | RACE PACE ANALYSIS
No match for Mercedes: ANT was over 0.2s/lap quicker than the next best car despite fighting with RUS and not having to push at the end!
Excellent (and identical) pace for VER and HAM.
LEC was 0.36s/lap slower than HAM, but almost as quick as HAD despite using one set less.
Great pace for Alpine: 6th best for COL!
Gap (s/lap)
1) Mercedes;
2-3) RBR/Ferrari +0.22;
4) Alpine +1.35;
5) Williams +1.45;
6) RBs +1.58;
7-8) Haas/Audi +1.73.
McL (PIA) hard to judge due to traffic. Cadillac and Aston were nowhere: ~4s/lap slower despite multiple stops!
No match for Mercedes: ANT was over 0.2s/lap quicker than the next best car despite fighting with RUS and not having to push at the end!
Excellent (and identical) pace for VER and HAM.
LEC was 0.36s/lap slower than HAM, but almost as quick as HAD despite using one set less.
Great pace for Alpine: 6th best for COL!
Gap (s/lap)
1) Mercedes;
2-3) RBR/Ferrari +0.22;
4) Alpine +1.35;
5) Williams +1.45;
6) RBs +1.58;
7-8) Haas/Audi +1.73.
McL (PIA) hard to judge due to traffic. Cadillac and Aston were nowhere: ~4s/lap slower despite multiple stops!
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Clipping will be almost non-existent in Monaco! Here's why 👇
1) ~20% of the lap spent braking + ~28% at partial throttle → plenty of harvesting.
2) Full throttle for just ~44% of the lap → low deployment.
3) ERS power will taper off linearly above 200 km/h (vs. the usual 290 km/h) due to special rules → even lower deployment.
On top of that, active aero WON'T be available, further limiting acceleration and top speed. Cars could have exceeded 300 km/h (vs. the usual 280–290 km/h); instead, these changes will slow them down, but make quali more exciting (no clipping) and overtaking easier:
- Overtake mode makes a difference above just 200 km/h;
- More drag → stronger slipstream.
Let's see how it plays out! 😎
1) ~20% of the lap spent braking + ~28% at partial throttle → plenty of harvesting.
2) Full throttle for just ~44% of the lap → low deployment.
3) ERS power will taper off linearly above 200 km/h (vs. the usual 290 km/h) due to special rules → even lower deployment.
On top of that, active aero WON'T be available, further limiting acceleration and top speed. Cars could have exceeded 300 km/h (vs. the usual 280–290 km/h); instead, these changes will slow them down, but make quali more exciting (no clipping) and overtaking easier:
- Overtake mode makes a difference above just 200 km/h;
- More drag → stronger slipstream.
Let's see how it plays out! 😎
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Today I'm teaching you how to get your car's power curve WITHOUT using a dyno!
(Thanks to vehicle dynamics 😎)
1) Engage a given gear, then accelerate from low up to high rpm.
2) Acquire your car's speed (v) and rpm via an OBD sensor.
3) Compute the longitudinal acceleration ax as the derivative of speed (its rate of change).
4) Compute the tractive force F as mass × ax (drag can be neglected in lower gears).
5) Compute the engine Torque via the known tyre radius, gear ratio, and assuming a transmission efficiency (FWD/RWD: 0.85, 4WD: 0.75).
6) Power = Torque × rpm → plot both against rpm and you have your curves! ✅
Below are results from a diesel car I was testing: after the tune (red), peak torque rose by ~22 Nm above 2000 rpm, with a corresponding +15 hp peak power gain!
I really cannot help tinkering with this stuff...
Visualisations made via @JMP_software
(Thanks to vehicle dynamics 😎)
1) Engage a given gear, then accelerate from low up to high rpm.
2) Acquire your car's speed (v) and rpm via an OBD sensor.
3) Compute the longitudinal acceleration ax as the derivative of speed (its rate of change).
4) Compute the tractive force F as mass × ax (drag can be neglected in lower gears).
5) Compute the engine Torque via the known tyre radius, gear ratio, and assuming a transmission efficiency (FWD/RWD: 0.85, 4WD: 0.75).
6) Power = Torque × rpm → plot both against rpm and you have your curves! ✅
Below are results from a diesel car I was testing: after the tune (red), peak torque rose by ~22 Nm above 2000 rpm, with a corresponding +15 hp peak power gain!
I really cannot help tinkering with this stuff...
Visualisations made via @JMP_software
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If there's a track where Ferrari can win before upgrading their engine, that's Monaco! 💡
Ferrari-powered teams, Audi, and especially Aston's lower power will matter little here → should perform better than usual.
Traction determines laptime, rewarding those that can put the power down.
Trivia: it will be the regular F1 race with the lowest fuel consumption ever! (Most efficient PUs ever, 260 km vs other tracks' 305 km, low consumption per lap).
What's YOUR prediction? 👀
📸 @pirellisport
Ferrari-powered teams, Audi, and especially Aston's lower power will matter little here → should perform better than usual.
Traction determines laptime, rewarding those that can put the power down.
Trivia: it will be the regular F1 race with the lowest fuel consumption ever! (Most efficient PUs ever, 260 km vs other tracks' 305 km, low consumption per lap).
What's YOUR prediction? 👀
📸 @pirellisport
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📊MONACO GP - FP2 ANALYSIS
🟥Ferrari are the clear favourites: HAM was quickest, but LEC left ~0.25s on the table by not combining his best sectors!
Sector 1: LEC quickest, RUS/VER/ANT within 0.1s; HAM struggled more.
S2: HAM quickest, LEC +0.025s. Mercedes struggled (ANT had the LOWEST minimum speed at the hairpin, just 40km/h! -6km/h vs HAM).
S3: Ferrari dominated again.
Lap domination (top figure, each team's best lap): HAM was quicker than VER and RUS only around the tunnel, yet faster overall! VER and RUS traded blows throughout sectors 1-3, but both lost out to HAM when it mattered).
MY QUALI POWER RANKINGS:
🟥Ferrari > 🟦RBR (VER) / 🟩Mercedes > 🟧McL
What's YOUR prediction? 👀
🟥Ferrari are the clear favourites: HAM was quickest, but LEC left ~0.25s on the table by not combining his best sectors!
Sector 1: LEC quickest, RUS/VER/ANT within 0.1s; HAM struggled more.
S2: HAM quickest, LEC +0.025s. Mercedes struggled (ANT had the LOWEST minimum speed at the hairpin, just 40km/h! -6km/h vs HAM).
S3: Ferrari dominated again.
Lap domination (top figure, each team's best lap): HAM was quicker than VER and RUS only around the tunnel, yet faster overall! VER and RUS traded blows throughout sectors 1-3, but both lost out to HAM when it mattered).
MY QUALI POWER RANKINGS:
🟥Ferrari > 🟦RBR (VER) / 🟩Mercedes > 🟧McL
What's YOUR prediction? 👀
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Formula Data Analysis
📊MONACO GP - FP2 ANALYSIS 🟥Ferrari are the clear favourites: HAM was quickest, but LEC left ~0.25s on the table by not combining his best sectors! Sector 1: LEC quickest, RUS/VER/ANT within 0.1s; HAM struggled more. S2: HAM quickest, LEC +0.025s. Mercedes…
Audi reached 289 km/h out of the tunnel despite the ERS nerf and active aero being unavailable!
Cars would have exceeded 300km/h if not for those changes. 😳
Cars would have exceeded 300km/h if not for those changes. 😳
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📊 MONACO GP - QUALIFYING | QUALIFYING ANALYSIS
🟩ANT's 3 km/h top speed advantage may have been worth the 0.042s that gave him pole. He was quickest at the end of every full-throttle section!
🟦VER showed excellent traction (full throttle 36.9% of the lap) and high-speed cornering (173 km/h in T12)!
Red Bulll has made an incredible job turning around the performance of their chassis in just a few races: from undrivable and barely quicker than a Racing Bulls to a Monaco pole contender!
🟥Ferrari's advantages vanished in quali: they couldn't string together a clean lap and lost the front row. Still ahead of 🟧McL, though, who were well off the pace, worst or 2nd worst in every aspect!
Overtaking in Monaco is extremely hard: ANT might gain significant points over RUS, while Ferrari might have lost a critical opportunity.
🟩ANT's 3 km/h top speed advantage may have been worth the 0.042s that gave him pole. He was quickest at the end of every full-throttle section!
🟦VER showed excellent traction (full throttle 36.9% of the lap) and high-speed cornering (173 km/h in T12)!
Red Bulll has made an incredible job turning around the performance of their chassis in just a few races: from undrivable and barely quicker than a Racing Bulls to a Monaco pole contender!
🟥Ferrari's advantages vanished in quali: they couldn't string together a clean lap and lost the front row. Still ahead of 🟧McL, though, who were well off the pace, worst or 2nd worst in every aspect!
Overtaking in Monaco is extremely hard: ANT might gain significant points over RUS, while Ferrari might have lost a critical opportunity.
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ADUO FIGURES REVEALED 💥
Not only is the Mercedes ICE NOT the most powerful; they're over 2% behind RBPT (a 12-24 hp deficit), so they will benefit from ADUO!
Ferrari (and Audi) DID fall in the 4-6% deficit range → can catch up.
Honda is so far behind it landed in the newly added 6-8% range, unlocking more budget and development time.
No one expected that about Mercedes. Ferrari can finally develop their engine... but so can Mercedes! A huge blow to Ferrari's championship hopes.
Not only is the Mercedes ICE NOT the most powerful; they're over 2% behind RBPT (a 12-24 hp deficit), so they will benefit from ADUO!
Ferrari (and Audi) DID fall in the 4-6% deficit range → can catch up.
Honda is so far behind it landed in the newly added 6-8% range, unlocking more budget and development time.
No one expected that about Mercedes. Ferrari can finally develop their engine... but so can Mercedes! A huge blow to Ferrari's championship hopes.
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Formula Data Analysis
ADUO FIGURES REVEALED 💥 Not only is the Mercedes ICE NOT the most powerful; they're over 2% behind RBPT (a 12-24 hp deficit), so they will benefit from ADUO! Ferrari (and Audi) DID fall in the 4-6% deficit range → can catch up. Honda is so far behind it…
Each manufacturer's ICE power estimation I made on the 13th of April, using all the qualifying and race sessions available at the time:
https://t.me/FDataAn/2636
https://t.me/FDataAn/2636
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Formula Data Analysis
I've estimated the ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) power for each manufacturer: big trouble for Red Bull, while Ferrari can be optimistic! 👀
Mercedes: ~576 hp (best)!
Teams with ≤564 hp (>2% deficit) earn one extra upgrade token per year. RBPT sits at…
Mercedes: ~576 hp (best)!
Teams with ≤564 hp (>2% deficit) earn one extra upgrade token per year. RBPT sits at…
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Formula Data Analysis
Each manufacturer's ICE power estimation I made on the 13th of April, using all the qualifying and race sessions available at the time: https://t.me/FDataAn/2636
Article on the topic:
https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/f1-engine-upgrades-first-2026-fia-decision-revealed/
https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/f1-engine-upgrades-first-2026-fia-decision-revealed/
The Race
ADUO F1 engine upgrades decision revealed
The Race understands Red Bull's engine has been declared F1's best under the new development system - meaning Mercedes and Ferrari will get upgrade opportunities
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Formula Data Analysis
ADUO FIGURES REVEALED 💥 Not only is the Mercedes ICE NOT the most powerful; they're over 2% behind RBPT (a 12-24 hp deficit), so they will benefit from ADUO! Ferrari (and Audi) DID fall in the 4-6% deficit range → can catch up. Honda is so far behind it…
I often read 'The ADUO only considers the ICE power, not the ERS; Mercedes has the best ERS; that's why they got the 2-% ADUO' - but that's wrong!
Read on to understand why 💡
The 🔋ERS does NOT produce energy: it simply deploys what it previously harvested. ALL energy originates from the ⛽️ ICE.
Harvesting happens:
- At partial throttle, when the ICE produces MORE energy than can be put down (the ERS harvests the surplus).
- When coasting or braking, using the car's kinetic energy.
Having a more powerful ICE:
- Extends the partial throttle phase → more harvesting ✅
- Raises top speed → more kinetic energy → more harvesting ✅
Read on to understand why 💡
The 🔋ERS does NOT produce energy: it simply deploys what it previously harvested. ALL energy originates from the ⛽️ ICE.
Harvesting happens:
- At partial throttle, when the ICE produces MORE energy than can be put down (the ERS harvests the surplus).
- When coasting or braking, using the car's kinetic energy.
Having a more powerful ICE:
- Extends the partial throttle phase → more harvesting ✅
- Raises top speed → more kinetic energy → more harvesting ✅
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