Sports · Motorsport · 4 hrs ago
F1 teams must use the same wheel rims in qualifying and races from 2027
From 2027, F1 teams must use the same wheel-rim specifications for qualifying and races.
The FIA approved the change this week through the World Motor Sport Council.
Teams gained freedom to design their own rims under the 2026 rules, and Ferrari and McLaren developed designs that affect tyre temperatures.
Rims can help teams manage tyre temperatures, which can improve performance in a qualifying lap or help preserve tyres during a race.
The FIA feared separate designs for qualifying and races could trigger a costly development race.
The new rule bars teams from changing rim specifications between those sessions once the car enters the relevant pre-parc fermé period.
The rule also applies to sprint weekends, and a rim counts as used once a car fitted with it leaves the pit lane.
The FIA has approved a rule requiring Formula 1 teams to use the same wheel-rim specifications in qualifying and the race from 2027.
The rule change was approved this week by the World Motor Sport Council and applies from the start of the 2027 season.
It aims to prevent teams from developing separate rims to optimise tyre temperatures for qualifying and races.
Teams may not change rim specifications between the relevant qualifying and race sessions once the car enters the specified parc-fermé period.
The change follows teams’ development of their own rim designs after standard rims were no longer required under the 2026 rules.
- Who
- The FIA and Formula 1 teams.
- What
- From 2027, teams must use the same front and rear rim specifications in qualifying and the race, with no change between sessions.
- When
- The rule takes effect at the start of 2027.
- Where
- Formula 1 sprint and Grand Prix weekends.
- Why
- The FIA wants to prevent a development and spending race over separate rims designed to optimise tyre temperatures for qualifying and races.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Formula 1 rules removed the requirement to use standard wheel rims, allowing teams to use their own designs.
Ferrari introduced new rims intended to improve rear-tyre cooling.
The FIA World Motor Sport Council approved the 2027 rim rule changes.
The new rule requiring the same rim specifications for qualifying and races comes into force.
- Effective season
- 2027
- Regulation
- Article B8.3 of the sporting regulations
- Approval body
- FIA World Motor Sport Council
- Ferrari update
- New rims introduced at the Barcelona Grand Prix
- Rim use
- A rim is deemed used once a car leaves the pit lane with it fitted
4 sources
What people are saying
It's quite a significant variation.
What we have seen this year is that generally stabilised conditions are much lower than in the past, and this is because the rim basically is cooling the whole wheel, and the tyres themselves.