Formula 1 is on the eve of the biggest revolution in its history. The new regulations change everything: the car concept, the dimensions, the weight and the entire powertrain. A complete reshuffle of the grid will follow, with huge gains on offer for those who best understand the new rules.
We are bidding farewell to DRS (Drag Reduction System) and drivers are being handed three new tools: Active Aero, Overtake Mode and Boost Mode.
Active Aero
This resembles DRS — a wing that opens — but now operates on both the rear and the front wing. Crucially, it can be used every lap, regardless of proximity to another car. Where DRS was primarily an overtaking aid, the new active aero system is mainly designed to save energy: reducing aerodynamic drag on the straights is essential for efficient energy use. That also ties into the new, less powerful power units. It is expected, however, that top speed will be higher than in previous years.
There are two settings: Straight Line Mode and Corner Mode. In Straight Line Mode the front and rear wings open to reduce overall drag. Because this mode can be used at multiple points around the lap, both wings open — avoiding an imbalance that would otherwise induce oversteer. Opening both wings restores balance. In the second setting, Corner Mode, the front and rear wings return to their normal (high downforce) position for improved cornering speed.
Active Aero is therefore available to every driver, on every lap, regardless of whether they are close to a rival. Drivers manually open the wings for each zone. The FIA designates predefined points on the circuit where this is allowed (straight sections with a minimum length). As with DRS, drivers can close the wings manually, but they also close automatically when braking or when lifting off the throttle.
Overtake Mode
This is the replacement for DRS. When you are within one second of another driver, the driver hits the button and gets extra energy from the battery. Unlike DRS, you may spread this energy over the whole lap. You can deploy it in one go, or split it into smaller boosts. That turns into a strategic game, not least because you then have to make sure you recharge the battery.
Boost Mode
Drivers can at any time during a lap press a button to release extra energy from the electric motor, provided of course there is sufficient energy available in the battery. As with Overtake Mode you can split this into smaller portions, or use it all at once to attack another driver or to defend. That makes racing more strategic and can create more excitement and on-track battles. Tactics become more important too. Say a safety car appears and your battery isn’t charged enough — at the restart you could suddenly be the sitting duck.
