Game-Changer? F1's Innovative Livery Rule Explained
Nov.17 - Formula 1's stakeholders have signed off a series of regulatory tweaks for 2026 - including a mandatory minimum livery coverage - while delaying a decision on the controversial proposal for compulsory two-stop races.
At late last week's F1 Commission meeting in London, chaired by Nikolas Tombazis and Stefano Domenicali, the FIA confirmed that teams will be required to paint or sticker at least 55 percent of their cars' surface area - from side and top views - from next year.
The move aims to curb the trend of bare carbon-fibre cars and improve visual distinction on track.
The Commission also backed a change to the long-standing driver numbering rules, with drivers now permitted to change their permanent race number during their career - the first adjustment to the system introduced in 2014.
However, the debate over race format changes remains unresolved. A mandatory two-stop rule - along with proposals concerning tyre-life limits and obliging drivers to use all three compounds in a grand prix - drew mixed responses based on analysis from teams and Pirelli.
No agreement was reached, and discussions will continue into the 2026 season.
The Commission also discussed possible redesigns to driver cooling systems for 2026, with feedback to be gathered through the GPDA before any mandate is considered.
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The minimum 55% requirement for sticker-placing is interesting.
On the other hand, allowing a driver to change permanent race number during an active F1 career is also interesting & ultimately not the very first change to the system, as each number originally (for the system’s first two years) remained reserved to a driver for one full year after the last/most recent competitive outing in F1 before shifting to two full years, & I think this aspect should revert to the original simply to allow more flexibility for new full-time drivers, especially when a situation is clear that a given driver won’t return at a later point anyway; hence, reserving for a single year rather than two would be more reasonable.
For example, this means that Lindblad can’t choose either 2 or 3 (even if he wanted to), given they were used as race numbers most recently during last season & therefore, will become re-available to choose for the 2027 season, even though neither Sargeant nor Ricciardo will compete in F1 again in any case; hence, keeping the respective numbers reserved for them also throughout next year is pointless & the same when Kimi & Seb retired as their decisions were definitive like Nico Rosberg’s & JB’s, etc.
However, despite allowing in-career re-choosing, I doubt anyone will use the opportunity, as everyone seems fully happy with their individual choices.
Of course, Max will start using 33 again from next season, even if only due to the rule regarding #1 use.
Then the background base livery colour should be one of vynal wrap carbon fibre, honestly this is f1 taking the piss, for years theres been bare carbon fibre on production cars, now suddenly in f1 its not allowed to show it, this is tinkering , where tinkering isnt needed Imo, am i allowed to say tinkering or will f9backward call me a nasty name?