Starting with the 2022 season, a Formula 1 car must weigh at least 795kg, excluding fuel, for the duration of the Grand Prix.
The regulations stipulate that if a car is no longer fitted with tires when it is required to be checked, its weight will be determined using a set of dry tires selected by the FIA technical delegate.
This is how the weight in F1 cars evolved in the history of F1
(Click on Full Version below if you can’t see the photos)
From 1950 to 1960 there was no restriction on the maximum or minimum weight of Formula 1 single-seaters
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The models of those years were around 600-700 kg. In the photo, 1 José Froilán González at the 1951 British GP.
Photo by: Ferrari Media Center
In 1961 it was established that cars could not weigh less than 450 kg empty with 1.5 liter engines.
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In the photo, Giancarlo Baghetti leads the French GP in the Ferrari 156, while Innes Ireland goes off track in the Lotus 21.
Photo By: Sutton Motorsport Images
In 1966 the 3 liter engines were introduced and the minimum weight increased to 500 kg
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In the photo, Richie Ginther, Honda, Jochen Rindt, Cooper, Jack Brabham, Brabham, Denny Hulme, Brabham, John Surtees, Cooper at the Mexican GP that year.
Photo by: David Phipps
F1 raised the figure to 575 kg in 1973
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In the image, Roger Williamson with the March-Ford 731 at the Dutch GP that year.
Photo by: LAT Images
The minimum weight remained unchanged, until in 1981 it was increased to 585 kg.
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In the picture, Alan Jones with the Williams.
Photo by: Williams F1
Later rules, with the four-stroke engines, led to a reduction in minimum weight. In 1994 single-seaters had to weigh at least 505 kg
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In the image, Michael Schumacher with Benetton in 1995.
Photo by: Renault
In 1995 this figure was raised again, placing it at 595 kg
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In the picture, Damon Hill with the Williams FW17.
Photo By: Sutton Motorsport Images
In 2009, F1 cars had to weigh at least 605kg.
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In the photo, Lewis Hamilton, McLaren Mercedes, and Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing.
Photo by: XPB Images
The last year of the V8 engines, in 2013, the minimum weight was 642 kg
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In the image, Fernando Alonso with the Ferrari F138.
Photo By: Andy Hone/Motorsport Images
In the first year of the new turbo hybrid era, 2014, the minimum weight increased to 691 kg
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In the photo, Kevin Magnussen, McLaren MP4-29 Mercedes, and Jenson Button, McLaren MP4-29 Mercedes
Photo by: Alastair Staley/Motorsport Images
The following year a new adjustment was made that raised it to 702 kg
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In the image, the grid at the Mexican GP.
Photo by: Glenn Dunbar/Motorsport Images
Two years later, in 2017, the regulations were changed again, due to the wider Pirelli. 728 kg was the figure that season
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In the picture, Daniel Ricciardo, with the Red Bull RB13.
Photo by: Steven Tee / Motorsport Images
In 2018 the Halo was introduced and the figure became 734 kg
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In the image, several cars in the Spanish GP that year.
Photo by: Zak Mauger/Motorsport Images
Due to excessive pressure on drivers to lose weight, the FIA introduced in 2019 a minimum of 80 kg for driver + seat and a total minimum of 743 kg
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In the image, Carlos Sainz with the McLaren MCL34.
Photo by: Joe Portlock / Motorsport Images
In 2020, after the addition of a second fuel flow meter, the minimum weight was 746 kg
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Photo by: Mark Sutton/Motorsport Images
… and by 2022, with the new regulations, with heavier standard parts, the minimum weight will be 792, the highest figure in history
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In the image, sketches of what Formula 1 will look like in 2021.
Photo from: Motorsport.com
- From 1950 to 1960 there was no restriction on the maximum or minimum weight of Formula 1 cars. The models of those years were around 600-700 kg.
- In 1961 it was established that F1 cars could not weigh less than 450kg empty with the 1.5-litre engines.
- In 1966 3-litre engines were introduced and the minimum weight for F1 cars increased to 500kg.
- F1 raised the minimum weight figure for its cars to 575kg in 1973.
- The minimum weight remained unchanged, until in 1981 it was increased to 585 kg.
- Later rules, with the four-stroke engines, led to a reduction in minimum weight. In 1994 single-seaters had to weigh at least 505 kg.
- In 1995 this figure was raised again, placing it at 595 kg.
- In 2009, F1 cars had to weigh at least 605kg.
- The last year of the V8 engines, in 2013, the minimum weight of the F1 was 642 kg.
- In the first year of the new turbo hybrid era in Formula 1, 2014, the minimum weight of the cars increased to 691 kg.
- A year later, in the 2015 F1 season, a new adjustment was made that raised it to 702 kg.
- Two years later, in 2017, the regulations were changed again, due to the wider Pirelli tyres. 728 kg was the figure that season for the minimum weight of the cars.
- In 2018 the Halo was introduced and the minimum weight became 734 kg.
- Due to excessive pressure on drivers to lose weight, the FIA introduced in 2019 a minimum of 80kg for driver+seat and a total minimum of 743kg.
- In 2020, following the addition of a second fuel flow meter, the minimum weight for F1 cars became 746kg.
- And finally for F1 2022, with the new regulations, with heavier standard parts, the minimum weight of the cars is 795 kg, the highest figure in history. Initially, before the entry of the new rules was postponed due to the pandemic, that limit was going to be 768 kg.
