It’s not just about the tyre – uncovering the complexities of the F1 wheel hub

There is a lot more to a Pirelli branded F1 tyre being affixed to each corner of an F1 car than to keep the chassis off the ground.

This is more evident than now, with changes to the 2026 regulations introducing amendments to the regulations, with everyone’s attention being focused on the headlines regarding the chassis’, revised aerodynamics, active front wings, lighter chassis, and the increasing reliance on hybrid power.

Yet, within all those published new rules was an overhaul that was a significant shift, with teams being allowed to design and select their own wheel rims.

It’s a technical change that may seem minor to the casual F1 observer.

But to the engineers, strategists, and performance analysts, it allows for a crucial area of competitive differentiation that had been sealed off and controlled externally since 2022.

For the seasons from 2022 through to 2025, Formula 1 mandated that a single‑supplier wheel rim for all teams, a controlled rim being manufactured by the German company BBS.

This was done as a form of cost‑control and in an effort of standardisation of some parts.

The move coincided with the introduction of 18‑inch tyres from the old 13-inch wheels and was done to stabilise tyre behaviour and to reduce the need for ongoing research and development.

Then, as the FIA evaluated its next regulatory cycle, it concluded that wheel rims, unlike wings, floors, or suspension offered limited potential for excessive expenditure.

With already tight restrictions on the use of materials, dimensions, and safety constraints, the governing body determined that giving some allowance for teams to design their own rims would not in any way undermine cost caps or competitive balance.

Thus, from 2026, teams were allowed some creative freedom to partner with suppliers such previously experienced suppliers like AppTech, Enkei or OZ Racing.

When looked at more intensely, wheel rims sit at the intersection of aerodynamics, thermal management, and mechanical performance. Their own design influences several critical aspects of the F1 car behaviour:

One of the dirtiest aerodynamic zones on any F1 car, is the front wheels.

This is based on the rim shape, spoke geometry used, and the carbon‑fibre lips that can assist to guide airflow around the tyre – whilst reducing turbulence, and stabilising the wake that feeds the floor and sidepods.

Teams themselves can now tailor this airflow to suit their broader aero philosophy across the rest of the car, being a subtle but meaningful advantage.

Whilst rims act as heat sinks, their mass, shape, and ventilation patterns determine how heat radiates from the brakes into the tyres.

As open‑spoke rims promote airflow and cooling, the closed or semi‑closed rims retain heat, helping tyres reach their optimal temperature faster.

With the 2026 tyres becoming narrower and more sensitive, this thermal tuning becomes a powerful strategic lever.

The interface between the wheel gun, the nut and the rim is also a finely engineered surface.

Custom rims allow teams to optimise chamfers, grooves, and materials to reduce sticking, shaving milliseconds off the critical pit stop times.

Although teams have kept their 2026 designs tightly guarded, early paddock whispers suggest two broad schools of thought exist, with teams like Audi and Mercedes being believed to be exploring vented, spoked rims that maximise airflow.

These designs favour circuits with heavy braking zones and high thermal loads.

Other teams, such as Racing Bulls and Haas, are rumoured to be experimenting with solid or semi‑solid rims, prioritising tyre warm‑up, a key advantage in qualifying and cooler climates.

This divergence hints at a season where rim design becomes a visible marker of each team’s strategic identity.

The return of custom rims reopens the door for commercial and technical partnerships with suppliers competing not only on the performance basis, but also on weight, durability, and manufacturing precision.

The current F1 cars will no longer share identical rims, with visual differences in spoke patterns, carbon lips, and finishes.

The teams rim design will influence tyre warm‑up, brake cooling, and aerodynamic balance, all which shapes race strategy.

As we are now at the mid‑season, the development battles will see teams gathering and reviewing data, with rim design updates, especially for circuits with extreme temperature demands.

Ultimately, with the return in 2026 to custom wheel rims, this may not dominate the headlines, and will on the whole be largely unnoticed, but it does represent a unique shift in Formula 1 engineering freedom.

It reintroduces a performance variable, encourages supplier innovation, and adds another layer of strategic complexity to the sport.

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