Ahead of the 2026 technical regulations F1 are still looking at active aerodynamics as a route to improving racing and the overall efficiency of the cars.
Late last year, F1 revealed that it could possibly implement active aerodynamics into the 2026 regulations with former F1 managing director Ross Brawn saying that as well as it being used as a way of improving the efficiency of the cars, it could also be used as a way of holding back the race leader to ensure they do not break away to easily.
With the 2022 regulations aimed at enhancing the race ability of the cars a qualified success, the regulations in 2026 offer a chance for new ideas to be implemented as a way of improving the show.
Aims to improve the racing
It is now being said that active aerodynamics could be used to ‘augment’ the downforce of a following car to improve the chances of an on-track battle.
Speaking at Autosport International recently, F1 chief technical officer Pat Symonds talked about how such an idea could improve the chances of a car behind attacking the car ahead: “What I’ve always felt we should do is have downforce augmentation.
“Because what does the car behind do? Yes, it loses some drag, but what really holds it is the fact it loses downforce.
“Our idea now is to augment the downforce back to where it should have been if the leading car wasn’t there.
“Everyone talks about overtaking, but for us, overtaking was the end of the battle.
“It’s the battle that’s interesting, it’s the unpredictability – is he going to get past? And I know a lot of people criticise DRS, and that is the trouble with DRS, it can make a pass too easy.
“Conversely when you don’t have it, the Imola race when the FIA were very reluctant to activate DRS, you do get some dull races. It’s a matter of getting it right.”
DRS is set to stay as part of the 2026 rule package – alongside the possible introduction of more active aerodynamics.
Symonds said: “We won’t lose DRS, because there’s totally active aerodynamics on the ‘26 car”
‘Conventional’ 2026 F1 car
Despite the talk of active aerodynamics, Symonds said that the car will remain ‘quite conventional’ however stated that they investigated different things when thinking about the regulations.
“When we studied the ‘26 project, we did have another clean sheet of paper, and we investigated all sorts of things.
“We actually went right back to a skirted ground effect car to get some kind of idea where the ultimate was.
“We looked at fan cars, all sorts of weird things.
“But the ‘26 car will be quite conventional, because that’s the way we want it to be.”