The gearbox that never was: A proposal for a spec F1 transmission cartridge

When F1 underwent its sweeping regulation changes in 2021, they included the introduction of a swathe of spec parts; some constructed by teams, others by nominated third-party suppliers.

In the extended horse-trading between teams, F1 and the FIA, one of the proposals that did not make it to the final rules package was the imposition of a spec transmission, or more precisely, transmission cartridge. This idea was floated due to transmission development being an area where teams invest considerable resource for small performance gains, yet one that adds nothing to the ‘show’ for fans. Ultimately spec transmissions were canned, but Aston Martin has brought the subject to the fore again for 2026.