F1 has long had active aero on cars – the rear-wing-opening overtaking aid, DRS, for instance, has been used since 2011 – but this is set to increase in the 2026 rules reset.
The FIA and the championship’s promoter are currently finalising the design rules for 2026 onwards, when simplified hybrid engines are also being introduced.
Early ideas, such as a reverse-DRS to possibly slow down a leading car, have been abandoned, but the FIA’s head of single-seaters, Nikolas Tombazis, recently said “there will definitely be a change of incidence of the wing on the straight to achieve the low drag" and "there will be something equivalent to the current DRS", that is possibly also used when cars are in corners.
When asked about the idea of expanding active aero use in F1 in an exclusive interview with Autosport, Red Bull chief technical officer Newey said: “It doesn’t concern me.
“The more active aero is really to try to make up for a power unit that’s lacking in energy.
“The active aero becomes essential to make up for the power unit that’s lacking in energy. But I don’t think that’s a bad thing at all.
Source: Autosport