McLaren sounds alarm over overtaking in F1's new era

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has raised serious concerns that Formula 1's new 2026 technical regulations may have inadvertently made overtaking more difficult, threatening a "fundamental element of racing." Despite the rules being designed to improve wheel-to-wheel action by replacing DRS with active aerodynamics and a more powerful battery deployment, early testing in Bahrain revealed drivers struggling to pass each other on track.

Why it matters:

The core goal of F1's massive regulatory overhaul was to create closer, more exciting racing. If the initial data shows the new cars cannot follow and overtake effectively, it represents a fundamental failure of the new rules' intent. This could force the FIA and F1 into rapid, mid-cycle adjustments to preserve the competitive spectacle that fans and stakeholders expect.

The details:

• The Overtaking Problem: Stella explained that the previous DRS system created a significant aerodynamic drag reduction for the pursuing car. Under the new rules, both cars have similar drag and power when close, neutralizing the key advantage needed for a pass.
• Driver Feedback: Both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri reported "extremely difficult" overtaking during the Bahrain test after racing other cars, confirming the data and simulations.
• Ineffective Battery Boost: The new 350kW MGU-K deployment, intended as a passing tool, is proving hard to exploit. The extra energy only provides a minor speed boost at the very end of a straight, which is insufficient to complete a maneuver.
• Competitive Landscape: On performance, Stella acknowledged that Red Bull, Ferrari, and Mercedes appeared "very well equipped" and fast in both qualifying and race simulations after the test, placing them as the early front-runners ahead of McLaren.

What's next:

Stella has called for the "F1 community" to examine solutions to ensure "sensible visibility" for overtaking. His public warning puts immediate pressure on the FIA and other teams to analyze the data and consider potential fixes, which could range from aerodynamic tweaks to adjustments in the energy deployment rules, to salvage the racing product before the season begins in earnest.