Wolff dreams about F1 2026: Spaceships or dragsters?

Innovation is the name of the game in Formula 1. And Toto Wolff, the conductor behind the Mercedes team, finds himself at a crossroads. The year is 2023, and Red Bull, led by the indomitable Max Verstappen, is rewriting the record books with their dominance in the ‘ground effect’ era. However, as the checkered flag waves for this season, Wolff’s thoughts are already drifting towards the enigmatic future of Formula 1 in 2026.

In an exclusive interview with Kronen Zeitung newspaper, Toto Wolff opens up about the unprecedented changes that await the world’s premier motorsport spectacle. “The engine rule has been agreed,” he says. “100 percent sustainable fuel, and up to 50 percent electric drive. That’s set in stone.”

These words echo a seismic shift in the sport’s regulations. But, as Wolff reveals, not everything about 2026 is as certain as those engine rules. One looming uncertainty, he explains, is energy recovery. With the current cars, the power units would struggle to maintain full-throttle speeds on the legendary straights of Baku and Monza. It’s a monumental challenge: developing a car that is not only faster but also lighter, equipped with a substantial battery to harness the powerful electric drive.

“The car should be shorter, narrower, and aerodynamically efficient,” Wolff elaborates. “We aim to minimize drag on the straights without sacrificing downforce in the corners.” It’s a delicate balance, a technological tightrope walk that will define the future of Formula 1.

So, what will these new-gen Formula 1 cars look like in 2026? Wolff leans back, a knowing smile playing on his lips. “I don’t know whether they will be dragsters or small spaceships where the wings retract in a straight line,” he muses. He’s half-joking of course, because F1 regulations are notoriously prescriptive.

“But that’s exactly what makes it so exciting,” Wolff concludes. “And that’s exactly how F1 has to be – namely, that it opens up these new paths.”