1966 Season — Regulations

The 1.5-Litre Era brought a complete transformation of Formula One, as the sport shifted from powerful front-engined cars to nimble rear-engined machines. The new 1.5-liter naturally aspirated engine formula — F1's smallest ever — mandated a complete rethink of car design. Power dropped to around 150 hp at the start (from the previous era's 290 hp), but the lighter, more aerodynamic rear-engined cars quickly proved faster overall. Ferrari adapted first, winning the 1961 championship with Phil Hill, but it was the British constructors who truly revolutionized the sport. Cooper had already shown the rear-engine concept's potential, and Lotus, BRM, and Brabham followed. Jim Clark and Lotus dominated the mid-1960s — Clark won the 1963 and 1965 championships with extraordinary authority. The 1965 season saw Clark win 6 of 10 races, a level of dominance rarely matched. The points system changed to 9-6-4-3-2-1, increasing the winner's reward. The minimum weight was set at 450 kg in 1961 — the first such regulation in F1 history. Supercharging was banned, simplifying the engine formula. Goodyear entered the tyre market in 1964, beginning a rivalry with Dunlop that would define the next decade. The era established the rear-engined layout as the permanent F1 standard — no front-engined car would ever again be competitive.