The Formula 1 paddock prepares for a crucial moment at the end of this month when teams conduct the first collective running of 2026-specification machinery at Barcelona. While much of the technical rulebook for the sport’s next era has been locked in, the FIA has deliberately kept several elements fluid. Single-seater director Nikolas Tombazis confirms the governing body has retained what he describes as “levers” — adjustable parameters that can be modified if the on-track spectacle fails to meet expectations when real-world data becomes available.
The overtake mode system replacing DRS
Among the most significant areas still under refinement is the mechanism for facilitating wheel-to-wheel racing. The Drag Reduction System will be retired for 2026 because active aerodynamics will be available to all competitors on every straight, deployed both at the front and rear of each car. In its place comes overtake mode, a concept sharing similarities with push-to-pass systems seen in other racing categories.
Tombazis outlined how this technology functions through a dual approach when speaking to selected media outlets. A pursuing driver within one second of the car ahead gains two distinct advantages: the ability to harvest approximately half a megajoule more energy per lap, and authorization to deploy that electrical power at higher rates than the leading car. The ERS deployment follows a defined curve within the technical regulations, known as the rampdown rate. Without overtake mode engaged, this curve gradually decreases until deployment reaches zero at 345kph. When the chasing driver activates the system, the curve maintains a higher level before dropping sharply to zero at 355kph, granting substantially more electrical assistance at elevated speeds.
The technical regulations specify this advantage in Article C5.2.10 iii, stating that up to 0.5 megajoules of additional energy may be harvested each lap when overtake mode conditions are met. This provision ensures cars can deploy extra power without exhausting their energy allocation prematurely.
Fine-tuning the balance between challenge and spectacle
Despite these established parameters, critical details remain unfinalized. The FIA has not yet determined the precise length of activation zones for overtake mode at different circuits. Tombazis emphasized the governing body’s intention to strike a delicate balance: overtaking opportunities must be achievable without becoming trivial.
“We are still fine-tuning that, meaning that as we are getting more and more final simulations, we have levers that we can adjust from a regulatory point of view,” Tombazis explained. The FIA possesses regulatory tools to either ease or complicate overtaking maneuvers depending on what early running reveals. The objective remains ensuring genuine racing battles rather than drivers sailing past one another without resistance, while simultaneously avoiding processional races where positions become fixed after the opening lap.
Barcelona testing will provide the first opportunity to validate simulation data against genuine track performance. The governing body plans to scrutinize all gathered information before making any necessary calibrations to the system.
Energy management introduces strategic complexity
Beyond the overtake mode framework, driver energy management assumes far greater importance under 2026 regulations. This increased emphasis could generate substantial speed differentials at various track sections. When one driver deploys maximum electrical power while another harvests energy, theoretical gaps in pace become significant.
Several team principals have suggested this dynamic might enable overtaking in unexpected locations around circuits. Tombazis remains more cautious about such predictions, anticipating teams will converge toward similar energy strategies once patterns emerge. The differences in energy deployment could create vulnerable moments where defending a position becomes challenging, but Tombazis expects teams and drivers to optimize their approaches to avoid becoming exposed.
“If we suddenly took these 22 cars and threw them on the grid now to start racing today, I’m sure we would find situations where what you’re saying is happening, because people are not fully optimised yet,” he noted. Once competitors understand the systems thoroughly, they should avoid becoming defenseless targets on straights.
Circuit-specific adjustments possible after testing
The FIA retains authority to modify certain values on a track-by-track basis even after winter testing concludes. These adjustments ensure cars maintain appropriate electrical power throughout each lap without premature depletion. Tombazis confirmed parameters such as maximum power output and recoverable energy per lap can be altered to maintain what the governing body considers a natural velocity profile.
The goal is preventing scenarios where drivers must lift throttle mid-straight due to energy limitations, a situation that would undermine the racing spectacle. Winter testing data will determine whether additional regulatory steps are necessary to simplify energy management or reduce its influence on lap time variation.
Navigating competing manufacturer interests
Adjusting technical parameters after testing inevitably raises questions about political complications. Power unit manufacturers performing well may resist changes that could diminish their advantage, while those struggling might advocate strongly for modifications. Tombazis acknowledged this challenge but stressed the FIA’s responsibility to prioritize the championship‘s overall health above individual competitor interests.
“They also care about the health of the sport but also whether they win races or not, and that complicates things a bit,” he said. Engineering departments add another layer of complexity, balancing sporting health, competitive success, and professional satisfaction in their technical work. This makes consensus more difficult to achieve, but Tombazis views navigating these conflicting priorities as fundamental to the governing body’s role.
What testing will reveal about 2026 racing
The Barcelona running at month’s end represents more than a shakedown for new machinery. It provides the FIA with critical real-world validation of simulation work conducted throughout the regulation development process. How closely on-track behavior matches predicted performance will determine whether the adjustable levers Tombazis referenced need activation before the 2026 season begins.
The governing body enters this testing phase confident in the fundamental regulatory framework while maintaining flexibility where needed. Power unit manufacturers have reached what Tombazis describes as “a good place” in technical discussions, but final confirmation awaits genuine running. If unexpected issues emerge or the overtaking picture appears either too difficult or insufficiently challenging, the FIA possesses both the authority and the prepared scenarios to implement corrections before competitive action commences.
