The FIA is hoping to replace the Halo used on Formula 1 cars with a new “lightweight” version in 2026.
Manufacturers have been invited to submit bids to supply Halos to be used by F1 teams when new technical regulations are introduced in 2026.One of the FIA’s goals with its new regulations is to bring down the weight of F1 cars which has steadily risen for years. The minimum mass under the current rules in 798 kilograms.
The Halo, a mandatory component of fixed specification, weighs seven kilograms. The tender document issued by the FIA for the 2026 Halo states the next version must have a mass “greater than 6kg
must be titanium alloy”, meaning they expect to reduce its weight by one kilogram at the most.
That would represent a significant gain gives the high forces the Halo is required to withstand. The safety structure has been credited with saving the lives of drivers whose cars have been struck by debris and other cars.
Among the drivers who credited the Halo for saving their lives since its introduction to F1 in 2018 is Romain Grosjean, who survived a fireball crash at the Bahrain International Circuit two years later. His Haas struck a barrier head-on and split in two, but Grosjean was able to climb out of the cockpit of his car to safety, suffering only burns to his hands.
In order to ensure the new, “lightweight” Halo makes no concessions to safety, three static tests will be applied to the design, submitting up to 125 kilonewtons of force.
The tender document specifies the new Halo must be constructed from a titanium alloy, as the current F1-grade examples are. Heavier steel version are used in some lower categories where impact speeds are likely to be lower.
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BasCB (@bascb)
14th May 2024, 15:12
Good, if it can be lighter, all the better.
Not that a 1 kg difference does much to change the weight, but at least it is a change DOWN in weight.
Jere (@jerejj)
14th May 2024, 16:45
Indeed. Halo alone may only have a marginal impact, but a weight reduction is weight reduction anyway, so still a positive impact alongside all the other aspects through which overall weight will get reduced.
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
14th May 2024, 15:32
The Halo is a standard part? I didn’t know, I thought each manufacturer did their own, like the roll hoop.
Yes (@come-on-kubica)
14th May 2024, 15:34
@fer-no65 my assumption is that the teams would start forgetting the safety aspect of it.
Biskit Boy (@sean-p-newmanlive-co-uk)
15th May 2024, 7:49
The Halo is a standard part, but the faring over it is designed by the team.
Nick T.
15th May 2024, 7:58
Ah, that makes much more sense. I was sure each car’s looked different.
Chill
15th May 2024, 12:57
It is a standard part, but I think they’re all made by the same manufacturer and then provided to each team to attach to the car. I presume this is what they’re looking into, a new manufacturer to produce all the lighter weight halos.
Alesici
14th May 2024, 15:59
The halo is standard, but I think the teams can design aero attachments to it themselves.
By combining a couple of sources, I found the Indycar ‘halo’ structure portion has just reduced from 15.5 to 12.5kg. If you multiplied this by the ratio of the density of titanium to steel, this 12.5kg would become 7kg. So a similar volume of metal to F1’s 7 > 6 kg.
However, Indycar adds the transparent aeroscreen to their ‘halo’ structure. Even with the new lighter design, that adds another 6.5kg to that 12.5kg steel structure.
So it’s impressive that Indycars overall are still lighter than F1 cars, in spite of the extra strength (and cheapness) from their heavier steel halo structure vs F1’s weaker titanium, and the extra safety from the aeroscreen.
anon
15th May 2024, 12:35
Alesici, except IndyCar specifies that the driver and driver ballast is not included within the minimum weight of the car, whereas Formula 1 includes the weight of the driver and driver ballast within the minimum weight.
You are therefore not carrying out a fair comparison – either you should add the weight of the driver to an IndyCar to get a figure that is comparable to Formula 1, or you should subtract the minimum weight of the driver and ballast from a Formula 1 car to match the approach in IndyCar. If you compare on a like for like basis, then you will see that an IndyCar is heavier.
Alesici
16th May 2024, 8:55
Hmm, yes, you may be right, I did wonder about that. But I spent that time researching the halo/screen weights, I was a bit lazy and didn’t confirm that position on which full car weights include the driver. It’s complicated by the fact that this year’s Indycars are significantly lighter than last years. So maybe that’s still tipped them below F1’s weight?
FlyingLap (@flyinglapp)
14th May 2024, 16:35
IndyCars weigh 758 kg, with F1 cars 798 kg, but F1 produce around 300 hp more, a much higher power/weight ratio.
Nick T.
15th May 2024, 8:01
I’d rather they be 700kg with 300hp less HP anyway. 600kg would be even better.
James
14th May 2024, 18:50
Just make the centre stand transparent
Dex
14th May 2024, 19:11
Just be rid of the planned battery and you can add a few extra halos if you like.
Nick T.
15th May 2024, 8:01
The new PU rega are an utter disaster.
SteveR (@stever)
15th May 2024, 0:50
Just get rid of the engine minimum weight limits and a lot of the problem would be solved.
gDog (@gdog)
15th May 2024, 8:37
Mass _greater_ than 6kg?
Must be titanium alloy?
If it meets the safety standards and passes all the relevant tests, _AND_ it’s a spec part… why are they stipulating these two requirements??
The FIA just can’t take their hands off and allow any innovation, even in restrictes circumstances.
Specify a supplied unit cost if you must, but otherwise just let engineering companies around the world compete for the best solution.