Lewis Hamilton’s calls for lighter cars have been answered, with Formula One due to introduce more ‘nimble’ machinery from 2026 in an attempt to spice up the racing.

The FIA have prescribed a reduction of 30kg in the technical regulations unveiled on Thursday, as well as introduced a boost function – officially known as the Manual Override Mode that grants greater electrical power to a following car. They say this will deliver ‘increased overtaking opportunities’.

Hamilton has long pressed for cars to shed weight and size to improve handling, and the move in this direction comes in time for what may be his final season in the sport driving at Ferrari.

The change breaks a historical tendency to add more bulk, partly for safety reasons (such as the halo, which weights 7kg). However, the next generation beasts will still weigh 768kg. In contrast, the lightest ever F1 car, the 1958 Lotus 12, weighed 320kg.

Explaining the Override Mode, the FIA said: ‘The deployment of a leading car will taper off after 290kph (180mph), reaching zero at 355kph (220mph) while the following car will benefit from MGUK Override providing 350kW up to 337kph (209mph) and 0.5MJ of extra energy.’

Lewis Hamilton’s calls have been answered with lighter cars set to be introduced from 2026

The FIA have prescribed a reduction of 30kg in the technical regulations unveiled on Thursday