Breaking: FIA director hints changes could already be made to unused F1 gadget… Read more
FIA director hints changes could already be made to unused F1 gadget
The FIA has indicated that Formula 1’s much-anticipated new “overtake mode” is not yet a finished product, with scope for changes still very much on the table as the sport prepares for its sweeping 2026 regulation overhaul.
Nikolas Tombazis, the FIA’s single-seater director, has revealed that the governing body is continuing to fine-tune the system and will closely evaluate its effectiveness during winter testing and the opening races of the new era. According to Tombazis, the FIA has regulatory “levers” available that can be adjusted if overtaking proves either too difficult or too straightforward under the new rules.
Overtake mode is set to replace the Drag Reduction System (DRS), marking a fundamental shift in how drivers attack rivals on track. Rather than opening a rear wing flap in designated zones, the new system will provide drivers with additional electrical power when they are within one second of the car ahead. Unlike DRS, which is limited to specific points on the circuit, overtake mode can be deployed more flexibly, allowing drivers to choose when and how to use their extra energy during a lap.
While the total amount of additional energy available to drivers will be fixed, how and when it is deployed could vary significantly, creating new layers of strategy. Drivers may choose to use the boost in short bursts or deploy it all at once, depending on track position, tyre condition, or race circumstances.
However, Tombazis stressed that the FIA is still refining the balance to ensure the system delivers competitive racing without undermining wheel-to-wheel battles.
“We are still fine-tuning that,” Tombazis explained. “As we’re getting more and more final simulations, we have levers that we can adjust from a regulatory point of view.”
He made it clear that the FIA is prepared to intervene if early evidence suggests overtaking is not working as intended. “If we see that overtaking is a bit too difficult, for example, we have levers to make it get a bit easier,” he said. “Or if we find it is too easy, we have levers to make it a bit more challenging.”
Addressing a Key Weakness of the Ground-Effect Era
Improving overtaking has been one of the FIA’s central goals heading into 2026. Despite the introduction of ground-effect cars in 2022, which were designed to allow cars to follow each other more closely, many drivers and fans have criticised the current era for a lack of sustained on-track battles. Turbulent “dirty air” generated by the leading car has continued to disrupt the downforce of following cars, making it difficult to stay close through corners and mount overtaking attempts.
The 2026 regulations aim to tackle this issue more aggressively. Among the planned changes are a lower beam wing and new in-washing wheel wake control boards positioned at the front of the sidepods. These features are designed to better manage airflow and reduce the negative aerodynamic effects experienced by a chasing car.
Overtake mode is intended to work alongside these aerodynamic revisions, providing an additional tool to help drivers complete passes without relying on artificial advantages that remove the element of competition.
Active Aero Adds Another Variable
Further complicating – and potentially enhancing – the racing spectacle is the introduction of active aerodynamics. The 2026 cars will feature front and rear wings capable of switching between Corner Mode and Straight Mode. This will allow teams to alter downforce and drag characteristics depending on the phase of the lap, improving efficiency on straights while maintaining grip through corners.
Combined with overtake mode, active aero could significantly reshape how drivers approach attacks and defence, particularly in close-running scenarios.
Despite the ambition behind these changes, Tombazis emphasised that overtaking must remain within a carefully controlled window.
“Overtaking has to be in a narrow window,” he said. “It cannot be too easy. We don’t want cars just driving past each other without having a fight. We always want to have this fight.”
At the same time, he acknowledged the opposite risk. “We also don’t want it to be impossible, so that when they leave the grid after lap one, you know how it is going to finish. We clearly don’t want that either.”
With simulations ongoing and real-world data still to come, the FIA remains open to making small but meaningful adjustments once the new cars hit the track. As Tombazis concluded, the governing body is prepared to move “in both directions” to ensure the 2026 rules deliver closer racing, more genuine battles, and a healthier balance between strategy, skill, and spectacle.
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