P1racenews AI automatic summary:
F1 2026 pre-season testing has debuted new ways of using the cars’ rear lights to signal how the MGU-K is being used to deploy power or charge the battery
Formula 1 testing has introduced new ways of using the cars’ rear lights to indicate how the MGU-K is being utilized for power deployment or battery charging. This includes the addition of amber lateral safety lights on the wing mirrors to signal a car’s reduced speed or stoppage on track, with different functions during race starts. The oval-shaped rear impact structure light now serves various purposes based on the car’s battery state, such as indicating power delivery, charging status, or ‘super clipping’. These rear lights work in tandem with the red flashing rear wing endplate lights, which encountered a minor issue during testing with Williams last week. The red rear impact structure light is also utilized for extra scenarios like safety cars, yellow flags, speed limiters, rain lights, or for drivers with limited licenses. In certain cases, the light can even turn blue, as seen when a driver without a full superlicence participates in a free practice session.
