How Much Does A Formula 1 Car Weigh?

• Formula 1 cars in 2025 must weigh at least 800 kilograms, including the driver but not fuel.
• Modern F1 cars are heavier due to safety systems, hybrid power units, and 18-inch tyres.
• From 2026, regulations will lower the minimum weight to around 768 kilograms to improve agility.

A Formula 1 car in the 2025 season must weigh at least 800 kilograms (1,764 pounds). This figure includes the driver, their full race equipment, and ballast but excludes fuel. The FIA raised the minimum weight from 798 kilograms in 2023 and 2024 to meet safety requirements and accommodate the current hybrid power units.

Cars are weighed before and after sessions to confirm compliance. If a car finishes below 800 kilograms, even by a small margin, the driver is disqualified. This happened at the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix when Charles Leclerc and Pierre Gasly lost their race results after their cars fell to 799 kilograms once fuel was drained.

With analysis from Parimatch Casino, we break down the current Formula 1 car weight rules, why cars have become heavier over time, and how the 2026 regulations will bring them down again…

Why Are Formula 1 Cars So Heavy Today?

Formula 1 cars are heavier today because modern safety systems, hybrid power units, and larger wheels have all increased the minimum weight to 800 kilograms in 2025. Compared to earlier eras when cars weighed closer to 600 kilograms, today’s machines carry more equipment designed to protect drivers and manage complex technology.

Safety technology

The most significant factor has been the FIA’s push to make cars safer. The halo device, introduced in 2018, is a titanium structure that weighs about 7 kilograms but can withstand the impact of a double-decker bus. Stronger crash structures, thicker survival cells, and reinforced side panels all add kilos to the car, but they are vital in protecting drivers during high-speed accidents.

Hybrid power units

Since 2014, cars have used 1.6-litre V6 turbo-hybrid engines. Alongside the combustion unit, they carry an Energy Recovery System that includes batteries, a Motor Generator Unit-Kinetic (MGU-K), and a Motor Generator Unit-Heat (MGU-H). The battery pack alone weighs around 20 to 25 kilograms, while the complex electronics and cooling systems add even more. Compared with the naturally aspirated V8s and V10s of the past, hybrid systems have raised car weight substantially.

Tyres and wheels

In 2022, Formula 1 moved from 13-inch to 18-inch wheels. While the change improved durability and road relevance, each wheel and tyre combination is heavier than before. Over four wheels, the increase in rotating mass adds about 14 kilograms, and that weight sits at the extremities of the car, influencing both performance and design choices.

Together, these elements explain why cars that once weighed little more than 600 kilograms now must meet an 800-kilogram minimum.

What Is the 80kg Driver Rule in Formula 1?

The 80kg driver rule in Formula 1 ensures fairness by requiring that every driver, along with their seat, must weigh at least 80 kilograms. If a driver is lighter than this threshold, teams must add ballast in the cockpit area to bring them up to the standard. This rule prevents teams from gaining an advantage by signing lighter drivers and levels the field between competitors of different body sizes.

Before this rule was introduced in 2019, taller drivers were at a disadvantage because their natural weight meant less freedom for teams to distribute ballast around the car. Alex Albon, who is 1.86 metres tall and weighs 74kg, is heavier than Yuki Tsunoda, who stands at 1.59 metres and weighs 54kg. Without the rule, Albon’s team would have less flexibility in balancing the car’s handling compared to Tsunoda’s, purely due to their body size differences.

By mandating that every driver-plus-seat combination meets the same minimum, the FIA guarantees that performance comes from driver skill and car design rather than physical build. It also improves safety, since ballast is placed low and centrally in the cockpit rather than being distributed in less controlled areas of the chassis.

What Happens if a Formula 1 Car Is Underweight?

If a Formula 1 car is found to be under the minimum weight after a race, the driver is disqualified. The FIA requires that cars meet the 800 kilogram limit at all times during competition, even after fuel is drained. Falling even one kilogram short is enough to lose a race result, no matter where the driver finished on track.

This rule was highlighted at the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix when Charles Leclerc and Pierre Gasly were disqualified. Leclerc crossed the line in fifth place, while Gasly finished 11th. Both cars initially weighed 800 kilograms, but after fuel was drained for inspection, each dropped to 799 kilograms. FIA technical delegate Jo Bauer confirmed the scales were properly calibrated and referred both cases to the stewards. The decision stripped Leclerc of valuable points and denied Alpine their first score of the season.

Teams often add ballast to reach the weight limit, but race incidents such as front wing damage or fuel loss can push a car under the threshold. Because the rule applies with no tolerance, disqualification is automatic. This strict enforcement protects fairness, ensuring that no team gains an advantage by running lighter than Article 4.1 of the FIA Technical Regulations allows.

Do All Formula 1 Cars Get Weighed After the Race?

Yes, every Formula 1 car is weighed after qualifying sessions and races to make sure they comply with the minimum weight rule. The FIA carries out these checks using calibrated scales located in parc fermé, and the process is overseen by FIA technical delegates who verify the results in front of team representatives.

Cars are weighed with the driver still inside, since the 800 kilogram requirement includes both the car and the driver’s full race equipment. This ensures an accurate reading that reflects how the car was raced on track. If the car is below the minimum at this point, the penalty is disqualification.

The FIA also performs random weight checks during practice sessions. This prevents teams from running lighter cars in non-competitive sessions to gain data or pace that would not be possible within the legal weight. These spot checks reinforce the importance of compliance at all times, not just in races.

By monitoring weight across the weekend, the FIA maintains both fairness and safety, guaranteeing that all teams compete under the same technical limits.

Future of Formula 1 Car Weight

Formula 1 is planning to reduce car weight as part of the 2026 regulations. The FIA has confirmed that the minimum weight will drop by around 40 to 50 kilograms, bringing cars closer to 750 kilograms. This target is designed to make the cars more agile, improve racing quality, and offset the extra bulk added over the past decade.

The reduction will be achieved through a combination of changes:

• Simplified hybrid systems: The current MGU-H unit will be removed, cutting complexity and weight.
• Smaller chassis dimensions: Cars will be narrower and slightly shorter, trimming unnecessary bodywork.
• Revised aerodynamics: Lighter structures will replace some of the heavy downforce-generating parts, making the cars easier to follow.
• Tyre adjustments: Narrower tyres are expected, which will reduce unsprung mass and rotational weight.

While 2026 cars will still be heavier than the lightweight machines of the past, the aim is to restore some of the nimbleness lost to modern safety and hybrid technology. The changes reflect Formula 1’s balancing act: keeping the cars safe and efficient, while making sure they remain thrilling to watch.

Formula 1 Car Weight FAQs