--- title: "2026 F1 Cars Aren’t Almost as Long as a Chevy Suburban Anymore" date: "2026-02-25" modified: "2026-02-25" authors: - name: "Jerry Perez" job_title: "Deputy Editor" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/jerry-perez" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/2026-f1-cars-are-shorter-but-still-longer-than-a-chevy-tahoe" categories: - "F1" - "News" - "Racing" --- # 2026 F1 Cars Aren’t Almost as Long as a Chevy Suburban Anymore ![]() *\F1 via YouTube\* The start of the 2026 [Formula 1]() season is around the corner, and I've been lucky enough to see several display cars that showcase the tangible changes brought by the new regulations. And while these [Audi]() and Red Bull liveries I saw were plastered on models that won't actually hit the track, one thing that has stood out is the size difference. Three years ago, we wrote about a [2023 F1 car being as long as a Chevy Suburban](). Now, if you're someone who is constantly around race cars, this probably isn't a huge revelation. To general fans, though? You betcha. A Suburban isn't a small vehicle by any means, so to think that the world's most advanced and best-performing race cars are as big as a family SUV that seats eight—that's shocking. That was then, of course, when the rules mandated wheelbases of 3,600 mm (141.7 inches). Now, the incoming regulations set the wheelbase at 3,400 mm (133.8 inches), a reduction of nearly 8 inches. It's worth noting that wheelbase length isn't the same as the car's overall length, and the FIA doesn't put any limits on that. For example, the 2023 F1 car we compared to a Suburban was the Alpine, which then measured approximately 221.3 inches, just a pinch shy of the SUV. ![]() ![]() ![]() So what about the new cars? What do they compare to? Well, it's still too early to do a precise comparison because teams are still playing around with aero packages, and overall length is largely dictated by how short or long the new front wings will be. But based on the 8-inch deficit as compared to the previous regs (and using the Alpine as the base), it puts a modern F1 car somewhere around 213 inches. For continuity, I'll stick with Bowtie SUVs. A 2025 Chevy Tahoe measures 211.3 inches, so a modern F1 car is still about two inches longer than that. Again, these are rough estimations. Length isn't the only measurement that's been reduced for 2026—not even close. The new regulations have also made cars nearly 4 inches narrower. Weight has also been reduced, as well as floor width, and other major components that will drastically affect aero performance and handling. There are several good videos from [Formula 1.com]() and *[The Race]()* that offer solid visuals, making it easier to understand. So there you go: Thanks to the new rules, F1 cars are no longer Chevy Suburbans. They're Tahoes, now. *Got a tip? Email us at tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Jerry is responsible for upholding The Drive's ethos as an audience-first, enthusiast-driven car blog that serves up industry-leading news, reviews, culture, and motorsport coverage. Overseeing a staff of writers and editors from his home base in Indianapolis, he helps curate the site's daily rundown, as well as its medium- and long-term content strategies. Jerry joined The Drive in 2018 as a writer and worked as news editor and managing editor before becoming the deputy in 2023. As a lifelong car enthusiast and racing fan, Jerry believes that all cars are cool, but the people behind the machines are even cooler. This belief often gives The Drive a slightly different focus from most other car sites, where we explore the humanity behind the machines. When he's not obsessing over the day's biggest stories or hanging out at a race track, Jerry can be found behind the wheel of a car, most likely sharing a laugh with his teenage son or daughter. ### Author social links [Instagram]()