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F1 2026 heralds the return of adjustable front wings – but it’s not the first time they’ve been used, as Edd Straw explains
When drivers switch between straightline and corner mode under Formula 1’s 2026 active aerodynamics regulations, one part of the change will be to the angle of the front wing. However, this is not a new concept, as drivers had the ability to make such adjustments back in 2009-10. During that period, the ‘skinny’ aero regulations emerged from the Overtaking Working Group’s research, aiming to make overtaking easier. The 2009 rules introduced ‘driver adjustable bodywork’, allowing the front wing’s top flap angle to be adjusted by +/- three degrees, but it was more commonly used for balance adjustments rather than improving following. McLaren’s Jenson Button expressed disappointment when the adjustable front wing was dropped in 2010, affecting the car’s balance during races with changing fuel loads. The adjustable front wing was eventually replaced by the drag reduction system (DRS) in 2011, which allowed drivers to reduce drag by adjusting the rear wing in specific zones upon proximity to the car ahead.
