The surprise revisions will affect areas including the rear wing, floor and bib underneath the front of the car, reducing how much of the current designs teams will be able to carry over into next season.
“The rules are actually changing aerodynamically for next year, and they’re fairly significant,” Vowles told Sky F1 during opening practice at the Belgian grand prix.
“There’s changes around the bib, the rear wing, some of the floor area. As a result of that, it isn’t really as carry-over as I think everyone would like in that circumstance, but it’s for good reason.”
The changes come after drivers and teams raised concerns about aspects of the new regulations introduced this season, particularly the increased reliance on electrical energy.
Formula 1 has already approved an adjustment to the balance between electrical and internal combustion power for 2027, moving away from the 50-50 split used this year.
That change is intended to reduce the amount of energy management required from drivers and allow them to attack more consistently throughout a lap.
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The aerodynamic revisions will work alongside those power unit changes, with the FIA aiming to control downforce and reduce the effect increased cornering speeds can have on the amount of electrical energy available along the straights.
Although the changes will focus on specific areas of the car rather than producing an entirely new rules package, Vowles warned their impact would still be considerable.
He said Williams had already committed to producing a new chassis as part of its development plans, with the adjustments adding another challenge for teams preparing their 2027 cars.
Vowles admitted the aerodynamic changes had not been expected when the current regulations were introduced but supported the decision to implement them.
“It wasn’t (expected at the start of this season). I think it’s directionally correct, I agree with what the sport is doing,” he said.
“It will help a little bit with creating a better format, a better show frankly, but it goes hand in hand with the PU regulations that we’re doing too.”
The revelation surprised Sky F1 commentators David Croft and Karun Chandhok, with most of the attention surrounding the 2027 regulations previously focused on the confirmed power unit adjustments.
“Really? I haven’t said anything that I don’t think should be public at this point,” Vowles said in response.
“There are elements of us wanting the best product in both qualifying and racing.”
Vowles said Formula 1 was continuing to refine the regulations to improve the overall product.
“I think everyone would acknowledge that the racing has been great for a lot of it, but we’re not quite there on the perfect product in getting everything extracted from it,” he said.
“It’s a mixture of PU regs and aerodynamic regs that will help put the sport in a better place next year.”
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