F1 teams agree to ban active aero for 2026 race starts on safety grounds
F1 teams have unanimously agreed to ban the use of low-drag active aero modes during race starts from 2026, heeding safety warnings that it created a "recipe for disaster." The rule change, set for FIA approval, mandates high-downforce mode for the launch to Turn 1, though significant performance differences between cars' getaways remain a concern.
Formula 1 teams have agreed to a crucial rule tweak that will ban drivers from using the low-drag 'straight' mode of their active aerodynamics during race starts from 2026, following significant safety concerns raised by drivers. The change, expected to be ratified by the FIA, aims to prevent a "recipe for disaster" scenario where a pack of cars accelerates with dramatically reduced downforce.
Why it matters:
Race starts are already one of the most perilous moments in F1, and the 2026 regulations introduce new variables with powerful, electrically-assisted power units and active aerodynamics. Eliminating the low-drag mode for the launch phase prioritizes driver safety and car stability, ensuring all cars have maximum downforce during the critical acceleration and braking zone into the first corner, reducing the risk of mass collisions.
The details:
- The initial safety focus was on turbo spool-up procedures, leading the FIA to grant drivers an extra five seconds on the grid to prepare their power units—a change successfully trialed in Bahrain.
- A second, major concern was the rule allowing cars to start in their low-drag 'straight' mode, as starting grids are typically within activation zones. This would boost top speed but critically reduce downforce.
- McLaren's Oscar Piastri starkly warned that "a pack of 22 cars with a couple 100 points less downforce sounds like a recipe for disaster."
- Teams reached a common agreement to not use the straight mode from grid to Turn 1. This will be enforced via a regulatory change or a Race Director's instruction on safety grounds in time for the Australian GP.
- During Bahrain testing, drivers consistently used high-downforce 'corner' mode for practice starts, previewing the new procedure.
What's next:
While the active aero ban addresses one major worry, significant jeopardy remains at the start. Performance disparities between power units are stark, with Ferrari showing exceptionally strong launches in testing. Mercedes' George Russell highlighted his team's current struggles, noting a practice start where Lewis Hamilton surged from P11 to P1. McLaren's Andrea Stella acknowledged that, despite the improved procedure, the "concern... has not necessarily been overcome," indicating that varying launch performance could itself become a safety and competitiveness issue needing further attention.