Formula 1 has officially announced a massive overhaul of its sporting regulations, beginning with the 2026 F1 season. Central to these changes is the introduction of `Overtake Mode,` which will replace the current Drag Reduction System (DRS).
The changes, which have been described by veteran commentator Martin Brundle as “the biggest ever” in the sport, will include the implementation of Active Aero. This system features moveable front and rear wings that drivers will be able to adjust during every lap of a race.
New Power Unit Systems: Boost Mode and Hybrid Focus
Drivers will also have access to `Boost Mode,` which they can deploy at any point during a lap by pressing a dedicated button. This mode provides maximum power output from the engine and battery. Crucially, the new power units will feature a 50% electrical power component, making the Boost Mode concept similar to the KERS system previously utilized in F1 from 2009 to 2013.
F1 suggests that the 2026 car designs will grant drivers more control over their power management than ever before. This will necessitate a deep understanding of how to extract maximum lap time, both during qualifying sessions and intense wheel-to-wheel racing.
How Overtake Mode Works
The DRS replacement, Overtake Mode, functions similarly to its predecessor regarding proximity: it can only be activated when a driver is within one second of the car in front at the designated detection point.
The extra power afforded by Overtake Mode can be used either entirely in one burst or strategically distributed across a lap. The exact duration of Overtake Mode availability per lap has yet to be finalized by Formula 1.
What was DRS?
DRS (Drag Reduction System), introduced in 2011, was an aerodynamic aid. It allowed the rear wing to open when a trailing driver was within one second of the car ahead, drastically increasing straight-line speed to assist with overtaking or closing the gap. It will be discontinued after the 2025 season.
A New Era of Overtaking
The combination of Overtake Mode and Boost Mode is widely expected to improve the quality of racing, a prospect further boosted by changes to the new cars aimed at making it easier for drivers to follow closely.
Mercedes driver George Russell said: `I think you will see more overtakes next year, but more overtakes in obscure locations – in locations where we’ve never seen overtakes before. If a driver’s at the bottom of their battery, and the one behind has more battery, in a given section of the track, they can suddenly jump past them at a corner in the past where there would never be an overtake. I think the 2026 regs will offer better racing.`
