F1 upgrades for every team: The $2.3bn arms race which will decide Lewis Hamilton title bid

As the second half of the 2026 Formula 1 season approaches, all 11 teams are intensifying their car development efforts under the sport's cost-cap regulations, which limit each team to $215 million per year in operational costs — totalling $2.36 billion across the grid. The 2026 campaign introduced major aerodynamic and power unit rule changes, forcing teams to rapidly understand and develop entirely new machinery. Lewis Hamilton's title chances are among the storylines hinging on how effectively teams allocate their development budgets for the remainder of the season.