Formula 1 teams’ ability to cool tyres in hot temperatures will be made harder by the FIA, after having reworded some of its regulations for the 2026 season.
Next year sees the introduction of brand new regulations, which brings an air of excitement given the mystery of how teams will approach and interpret them.
One of the current controversies over the last year, which has spread across this season and the last, has been McLaren’s ability to keep its tyre temperatures cool when the track temperature is high.
It has led to a number of contentious moments of suspicion being cast upon the Woking-based squad as to the legality of its practices.
However, significant scrutiny has so far concluded that the team has done nothing illegal, but any potential advantages gained this year may be a thing of the past come next year.
This has led to the FIA deciding to reword the only piece of the regulations that pertains to tyre temperatures – Article 10.8.3.
Previously, it read: “d. The only permitted type of tyre heating devices are blankets that comply with the design prescriptions listed in Article C10.8.4.
e. Any other device, system or procedure (except for driving of the car) the purpose and/or effect of which is to heat, or maintain the temperature of the hubs, or brakes, above the ambient air temperature, or to maintain their temperature if they are already warm, is prohibited.”
This has led teams to suggest that this could lead, and has led, teams to exploit this, and at a meeting of the World Motorsport Council, the FIA decided to rewrite this section.
It now reads: d. “The only permitted type of tyre heating devices are blankets that comply with the design prescriptions listed in Article C10.8.4.
e. With the exception of air entering through the apertures defined in C3.16.6 and C3.16.16, and the blankets permitted in (d) above. Any device, system or procedure (except for driving of the car) whose purpose and/or effect is to heat, cool, or maintain the temperature of the complete wheels, hubs, or brakes is prohibited.”
What might this change do to McLaren, and what will it mean for F1?
Article 3.17.1 has also been amended, with a new clause added which states that suspension fairings “must be internally sealed to prevent any internal airflow.”
This also shuts down any potential usage of the fairings to enable air to reach the wheel assemblies to cool the tyres.
Whilst it is now beyond reasonable doubt that McLaren is completely in the clear on its practices of tyre temperature regulation, this tweak in the rulebook might curb its ability to gain an advantage over its rivals.
Despite the 2026 regulations conveying an air of unpredictability about the forthcoming season and which team might have interpreted the regulations best, it will be a blow to McLaren’s chances of providing continuity on its current domination.
It will also open up a debate on whether the FIA has unnecessarily intervened on an issue in which a team has found a way to legally gain an advantage for the sake of narrowing the competition, rather than leaving teams to figure out their own way of catching up.
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