Formula 1’s technical rules will be revamped in 2026, which could well have a knock-on effect to potential future LEGO Speed Champions sets.
The ongoing partnership between the LEGO Group and Formula 1 has resulted in some impressive releases this year, with sets from the likes of City, Icons, Technic and even a Collectible Race Cars series. However, while it’s been LEGO Speed Champions that has received the most F1 builds over the past 12 months, the theme might well be facing a fresh creative challenge next year.
Formula 1 will be rolling out revamped technical rules in 2026, a move that represents a massive shake-up for the motorsport. In particular, a revised aerodynamic package will deliver all-new race cars to tracks, a decision that is likely to affect the LEGO Speed Champions design team’s approach to some potential future licensed F1 sets going forward.
Upcoming F1 cars will be shorter, narrower, lighter and nimbler, reducing the overall size and weight of the vehicles. The wheelbase will also be shortened, to improve responsiveness through corners, they’ll be fitted with narrower 18-inch Pirelli tyres to cut down on drag, and the small arches above the front wheels are going to vanish too.
In addition, new F1 car designs will incorporate simpler front and rear wings containing fewer elements, the rear beam wings will disappear altogether, and it will be possible for drivers to manually change the angle of those wings, using a technique called Active Aero.
The above guidelines are pretty much certain to factor into the look of some possible LEGO Speed Champions F1 sets aiming to hit the starting grid in the years to come, but it won't be the first time that the long-running theme has adapted to change. For instance, while LEGO Speed Champions cars started out at just six studs wide, current models have settled into a steady pattern of being slightly larger at eight studs wide, but the slimmer F1 car designs may cause some issues with those sizes.
It's also worth noting that wheelbase lengths have tended to vary a little in recent years too, with 76900 Koenigsegg Jesko and 76902 McLaren Elva both having 11 studs between the axles, 76896 GT-R Nismo featuring 12 studs, and 76910 Aston Martin Valkyrie AMR Pro and Aston Martin Vantage GT3 boasting 14 studs.
It’s too early to say just how the upcoming revamped Formula 1 rules may impact LEGO Speed Champions at this stage though. Such revisions are likely to filter through to brick-built recreations of F1 cars at some point, so it will be interesting to see what the response might be from the fan community to any such potential design changes.
A number of new LEGO Speed Champions sets will be racing into view on January 1, 2026, although none of those appear to be based on the new-look Formula 1 car design due to arrive next year.
You can browse all of the upcoming LEGO Speed Champions models confirmed and rumoured to arrive in 2026 on our dedicated page right here.
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