What Is Replacing DRS Mode in 2026?
In 2026, Formula 1 will officially retire the Drag Reduction System. The sport is going to introduce a far more sophisticated package built around active aerodynamics and energy-based overtaking. After more than a decade of watching drivers simply open a rear-wing flap, the FIA’s new approach aims to create a system that blends driver skill, hybrid strategy, and aerodynamic management into every lap. Active aero modes will allow drivers to switch between high-downforce and low-drag setups throughout the lap, while a new energy-boost mechanism will support overtaking. Together, these changes aim to make racing more dynamic and less reliant on a single button for speed.
The biggest change is the arrival of dual-state active aero. Instead of today’s single DRS flap, 2026 cars will use movable front and rear wings that switch between two aerodynamic modes. Z-mode, the standard high-downforce setting, will be used through corners to maximize grip and stability. On the straights, drivers can switch to X-mode, a low-drag configuration that flattens the wings and improves top-end speed. Unlike DRS, which can only be activated when within one second of a leading car, drivers will be able to use these aero modes regardless of gaps. Activation will be controlled at predefined zones around each circuit. The goal is to let every driver optimize their lap while maintaining aerodynamic balance through automated adjustments to both wings.
With DRS gone, the FIA needed a way to maintain overtaking opportunities. That’s where the new manual override mode comes in. When a driver is close enough to the car ahead, they’ll receive a set amount of extra electrical energy to deploy across the lap, however they choose. Instead of simply opening a flap, the chasing driver gains a strategic power boost, while the leading car’s energy deployment tapers off at very high speeds. This energy-based system is designed to replace DRS’s simplicity with a tool that rewards timing, battery management, and racecraft.
These changes represent more than just a technical refresh; they reflect a philosophical shift in how F1 wants racing to look. Instead of predetermined, almost guaranteed DRS passes, overtaking in 2026 is intended to be more dynamic and multi-layered. Drivers will manage aero switches, battery usage, and braking transitions every lap, creating a more tactical and less artificial form of combat. Whether this system improves racing remains to be seen, but its intention is clear: to push overtaking back into the hands of the drivers, not the buttons.
