F1 adds 'partial' aero mode to 2026 rules to address wet weather safety concerns

Formula 1 has introduced a new 'partial' aerodynamic mode for its 2026 regulations, a direct response to simulator-driven safety and technical concerns about the new active wings in wet conditions. The move aims to give race control greater flexibility to manage the revolutionary active aero system during changeable weather, preventing potential disqualifications or crashes.

Why it matters:

The 2026 rules represent the most radical technical overhaul in a generation, introducing active wings that radically change shape on the straights and in corners. Solving the wet-weather vulnerabilities of this system before it hits the track is critical for safety and competitive integrity. This pre-emptive fix shows the FIA and teams are actively learning from simulations to avoid real-world problems, ensuring the new era starts on a stable footing.

The details:

• The core 2026 concept remains: wings will go flat in designated 'activation zones' on straights to minimize drag (straightline mode) and return to a high angle for maximum downforce in corners (cornering mode).
• Simulations revealed two critical wet-weather flaws with the straightline mode:
  • Safety Risk: On a damp, low-grip track, a car in zero-downforce straightline mode could easily understeer off at high-speed kinks (like those in Melbourne) and crash.
  • Technical Risk: If race control disabled straightline mode for safety, cars would run with unexpectedly high downforce on straights. This could push them too close to the ground, excessively wearing the mandatory plank and risking post-race disqualification.
• The solution is a new 'partial activation' mode. In this configuration, the front wing will be in straightline mode (flat), but the rear wing will remain in cornering mode (up).
• Race control will now have a graduated response: they can disable the full straightline mode in dangerous conditions and then permit the partial mode as conditions improve.
• This will be managed via track-specific Activation Zones. The FIA will define separate, shorter zones for when only partial activation is allowed, potentially starting after dangerous kinks to ensure stability.

What's next:

The regulatory fine-tuning for 2026 continues alongside car development. In a related change, the FIA has also formalized a rule allowing the first practice session on sprint weekends to be extended to a full hour if it is red-flagged within the first 45 minutes, addressing team concerns over lost setup time. Another minor tweak permits drivers to double the gap between cars behind the Safety Car from 10 to 20 meters in poor visibility. These updates highlight the ongoing, collaborative effort to refine the 2026 package before it becomes reality.