Unpacking F1 Commission's 2026 roadmap

Written by Kavi Khandelwal, Edited by Meghana Sree

The final Formula One Commission meeting of 2025 was held on 14th November, chaired by the FIA’s Nikolas Tombazis and F1’s Stefano Domenicali. In this meeting, the FIA has laid out a clear and intriguing roadmap, unpacked here. 

Credit: Formula One

While no single decision represents a seismic shift, the package of discussions and proposals received paints a picture of a sport that is actively trying to refine its future, one that will balance spectacle, technology and driver welfare. 

Refining 2026 and the pit stop debate

The headline item for the meeting was the continued refinement of the 2026 regulations. A package of updates is being sent to the World Motor Sport Council on 10th December 2025. 

However, the most significant discussion centered on what wasn’t agreed upon: mandatory two pit stops. This proposal included adjustments to tyre specifications which was debated as a direct response to criticism of “tyre management” races. 

A mandatory two-stop rule would fundamentally alter strategy. It would eliminate the “one-stop” option and force more aggressive stints. 

The commission pragmatically deferred the decision and agreed to continue talks during the 2026 season. 

Therefore, there was no change agreed upon yet. This ‘wait and see’ approach would allow them to gather real-world data on the new cars before intervening. 

A new look: Banning bare carbon

The most visible change on the grid of 2026 aside from a new team will come from the new livery regulations. 

The commission directly targeted the “bare carbon” trend where teams have left increasing amounts of their cars unpainted to save weight. This has often resulted in dark, similar-looking machines on the grid. 

It was agreed that for 2026, a minimum of 55% of a car’s surface area (when viewed from the side and above) must be covered by painted or stickered liveries. 

This is a major win for fans, broadcasters and sponsors as it forces teams to prioritise visual identity and making the sport more appealing and differentiated visual product. 

Flexible driver numbers

In a smaller, related note on identity, the commission also agreed to a proposal that allows drivers to change their permanent competition numbers during their career. 

This reverses a rule introduced in 2014 and gives the drivers more flexibility over their personal brand. 

Mandating cockpit cooling

The meeting underscored a growing focus on the drivers’ welfare. The potential to make the Driver Cooling System (DCS) mandatory for 2026 was discussed. 

Currently, drivers have the option of choosing not to don the DCS vest, in which case proportionate ballast will be added to equalise weight relative to drivers who do opt to carry the entire cooling package.

This availability of having an option could change next year.

Credit: Formula One

This discussion stands as a direct lesson from races in extreme heat such as the Qatar Grand Prix or the Singapore Grand Prix where drivers have visibly suffered from exhaustion. 

Crucially, the proposal also includes an increased weight allowance for the system. It removes any potential performance penalty for safety, ensuring driver health isn’t compromised for a few grams. 

Further feedback will be sought from the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA), indicative of the FIA’s collaborative approach to driver welfare. 

Updating aero testing

Lastly, the commission also addressed the need to update Aerodynamic Testing Restrictions (ATR). 

This is essential “housekeeping” to ensure the rules keep pace with rapidly evolving simulation technology, like Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD).

The plan is to align the regulations with “contemporary processing and simulation technology” while remaining mindful of the cost cap. This aims to close any potential loopholes and ensure the rules remain effective. 

The final commission meeting of 2025 was not about revolution but about intelligent evolution. 

Their overall discussions show a sport grappling with its core tensions: how to create exciting racing without being overly artificial, how to balance engineering purity with commercial appeal and learning to push technological boundaries while protecting its athletes. 

The future of F1 appears to be one of data-driven refinement with a focus on both the visual spectacle and the human being in the cockpit.