🔗 Share this article Overtake Mode & Active Aero - Explaining F1's Fresh Technical Language The vehicles for the 2026 season are designed to be smaller, nimbler and more environmentally friendly relative to present-day cars. Formula 1 has revealed the new vocabulary that will be used to reference the intricate details of its new 2026 rulebook. The championship is embarking on what is arguably the biggest technical shift in its competitive history next season, featuring fresh chassis and power unit regulations and the required adoption of eco-friendly fuels. The new power units, which keep the 1.6-litre V6 turbo hybrid, boast a greatly enhanced battery power, necessitating key advancements in the vehicles' aerodynamic design. Over a race distance, competitors will carefully oversee ERS energy – sometimes even qualifying laps – to secure the optimal performance. Broad surveys were conducted with a wide range of fans, including new, casual and core fans, to determine which phrases would improve understanding of the central aspects of the 2026 changes. The key objective was to present a range of advanced technical aspects of the sport as straightforward as possible for the broadest viewership. Consequently, previous placeholder terms for some systems – such as "alphabetical mode names" for the moveable wings – have been abandoned in favour of straightforward terms that succinctly convey the primary purpose of the system. Key Technical Innovations Regulators explain that racers will have more power to determine tactics regarding energy deployment, energy recovery, and conservation. The 2026 rules introduce a set of functions that will be visually displayed on broadcast screens to improve the audience's understanding of the race battle. Overtake Mode: This replaces the existing Drag Reduction System. It provides a short boost of battery power accessible when a competitor is within one second the car ahead to facilitate an pass. Boost Mode: This is a on-demand battery discharge from the energy recovery system that can be utilized during attack or defence. It delivers the pilot peak output at the click of a switch. Both of these crucial modes will have to be deployed strategically, as the overall battery capacity is strictly limited. Active Aerodynamics: Both the nose and rear wings change configuration – opening on the long straight sections for minimal air resistance and higher speed, and sealing in the bends for optimal cornering performance. Battery Recharge: Cars can harvest energy with power recovered from braking, or during coasting at the end of straights or in sections where only partial power is applied. What's Changing on the Cars? The 2026 cars will be smaller and lighter compared to the 2025 spec, with a wheelbase shortened by 200mm to 3,400mm, overall width narrowed by 100mm – down to 1,900mm – and the lowest permissible weight decreased by 30kg. Cumulative downforce is anticipated to be reduced by approximately 15-30%, although squads will inevitably claw this back as they optimize their packages. Drag has been cut by 40%. The vehicles will employ active aerodynamics – both wings will adjust on the straights to cut resistance and increase straightline speed and return into place for optimal grip in corners. Pirelli tyres will keep the current rim size, but the rubber compounds will be narrower, by 25 millimetres on the front axle and 30 millimetres on the rear axle. Power Unit Revolution The 2026 engines will have an near-equal balance in energy output by the ICE and the battery and motor, up from about 20% battery contribution this year. The energy recovery system is streamlined through the removal of the MGU-H, the sophisticated and pricey component that generated electricity from the exhaust turbo. Cars will be required to run on 100% sustainable fuel, produced using biomass or lab-created processes.