As the FIA works on finalizing the new car rules for 2026, there’s been a bit of a setback. Recent tests on simulators showed that the original plan for active aero might not be safe. Initially, they were thinking of only adjusting the rear wing during races, but now they’ve realized they need to also tweak the front wing to keep the cars stable.
The concern arose because the simulators predicted that if the rear wing was set to minimize drag, it could make the cars spin out of control. So, they’re rethinking the whole concept to make sure it’s safe.
Max Verstappen, a prominent F1 driver, doesn’t seem too keen on this direction. He thinks F1 should focus on reducing the weight of the cars instead of adding complicated features like active aero. He said, “For me, it’s more important to just try and fight the weight of the cars, try and optimize that instead of all these tools and tricks to try and help the overtaking or following.”
The moveable aero parts are becoming necessary because the new power units in the 2026 cars will work differently. The plan is to split power equally between the engine and battery, which might lead to lower power, especially on straights. So, the wings need to adjust to provide downforce in corners and less drag on straights.
Verstappen also pointed out that the changes in engine regulations are driving the need for active aero. He said, “With the engine regulation that they went into, they kind of need to do that to create the top speed where the battery stops deploying and stuff.”
Another driver, Carlos Sainz, agrees with Verstappen’s concerns. He thinks things are getting overly complicated with the new rules. Sainz believes the focus should be on reducing car weight and bringing back active suspension for safety reasons. He said, “My personal view is that these cars now are probably just too big and too heavy.”
So, while the future of F1 is being shaped by these discussions, there’s a lot of debate about the best way forward.
