FIA Confirms Four Active Aero Zones for Hungarian Grand Prix

The FIA has confirmed that four straight-mode zones will be active at the Hungaroring for this weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix, the final race before Formula 1's summer break. Drivers will be able to deploy active aero on the start/finish straight, the run between Turns 1 and 2, the uphill approach to Turn 4, and the short straight between Turns 11 and 12 as the championship reaches its halfway point.

Why it matters:

The 2026 regulations remain a divisive talking point throughout the paddock, and the specific number of SM zones allocated per circuit is central to the ongoing debate. After experimenting with five zones at Spa last weekend, the FIA is continuing its tailored approach to each track layout, using Hungary's four-zone configuration to balance overtaking potential against the tight, technical nature of the Budapest circuit.

The details:

• Familiar territory: The first two zones mirror the classic DRS locations on the start/finish straight and between Turns 1 and 2, providing well-known passing opportunities into heavy braking zones.
• New additions: Active aero will also be available on the uphill climb toward Turn 4 and the short burst between Turns 11 and 12, offering extra chances in the final sector.
• Overtake mode: The detection point for the energy boost system, triggered when a driver is within one second of the car ahead, is positioned on entry to the final corner with activation on exit.
• Red Bull's dilemma: The Milton Keynes squad is still weighing whether to run its revised rear wing. Technical director Pierre Waché confirmed the airflow reattachment issues behind Max Verstappen's recent crashes in Austria and Britain have been fixed, but the team has not yet committed to racing the so-called 'Macarena' design.

What's next:

With the summer break looming immediately after Sunday's race, teams are under intense pressure to maximize their final points haul before the factory shutdown. The paddock remains split on whether the 2026 active aero rules are genuinely improving the racing spectacle, meaning Budapest could serve as a crucial data point ahead of what is expected to be a contentious mid-season review.