FIA Targets Lighter Halo for 2026 Formula 1 Cars

The FIA has initiated plans to develop a lighter Halo protection system for Formula 1 vehicles by 2026.

The Halo in F1 is expected to evolve in 2026 as the FIA aims to introduce a lighter head protection structure. The federation and Formula 1 have approached Halo manufacturers to propose more modern versions.

The FIA wants the F1 single-seaters to be lighter in 2026, and this is one of the reasons for the request made to manufacturers. The Halo currently weighs seven kilograms, and it must be reduced to six kilograms in 2026, using a titanium alloy.

However, no compromises will be made on the safety of the system, which notably saved Romain Grosjean’s life in Bahrain in 2020. Three static tests will be conducted on the design, with a force applied of up to 125 kilonewtons.

“Our goal is to significantly lower the weight limit, by 40 to 50 kilograms in 2026,” stated Nikolas Tombazis, the FIA’s Technical Director of Formula 1, explaining that the aim is to make the cars more agile.

“The way we want to achieve this is related to what we have called the ‘agile car’ concept, as we believe that in recent years, the cars have become a bit too cumbersome and heavy.”

Tombazis notes that with less rigid F1 cars, the weight will naturally decrease: “This reduction in downforce means that much of the load on components, such as the suspension, will be reduced, allowing teams to accordingly reduce weight.”