P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Formula 1 is to introduce a new ‘partial’ aero mode next year as part of an effort to head off concerns about safety and technical problems with the new active wings in wet conditions
Formula 1 will introduce a new ‘partial’ aero mode next year to address safety and technical concerns with active wings in wet conditions. The 2026 rules revolution will bring new power units and cars with never-before-used concepts, necessitating final adjustments. Teams realized potential issues with new active aerodynamics in simulators under the new rules. Starting 2026, cars will have wings that adjust between flat for reduced drag on straights and high downforce in corners. These wings were initially called X-mode and Y-mode, renamed to straightline mode and cornering mode, and will now be known as ‘active aero’. Two key challenges with straightline mode involve increased downforce in wet conditions if deactivated for safety, risking cars bottoming out, and potential understeer in low-grip, damp conditions if wings are not in cornering mode. Discussions with teams and the FIA have led to a solution where race control can adjust wing activation to prevent technical and safety issues. This solution includes a partially activated mode with different configurations for front and rear wings, allowing race control to disable full activation if conditions are deemed unsafe.
