McLaren team principal Andrea Stella has called on Formula 1 to communicate the details of its 2026 rule changes transparently to fans. He emphasized the complexity of the new regulations, which include major shifts in car design and power units. Clear explanations, Stella argued, will help maintain fan engagement amid transformed racing dynamics.
The 2026 Formula 1 season will feature what is described as the sport's biggest regulatory overhaul, with cars becoming lighter and smaller while power units achieve a near 50-50 balance between internal combustion engines and electric energy. This shift places greater emphasis on energy management, where drivers might harvest battery power or deploy it strategically.
A key innovation is 'overtake mode,' which replaces the current Drag Reduction System (DRS) and acts as a push-to-pass feature, allowing cars to sustain maximum power output of 350kW for longer periods. This could result in scenarios where one driver deploys energy aggressively while another conserves it, potentially leading to overtakes in unexpected places. Mercedes driver George Russell has predicted 'overtakes in obscure locations,' and Williams team principal James Vowles noted that racing 'will just be in a different way to what you're used to now.'
Stella echoed these views, stressing the need for fans to understand these dynamics. 'It's important that these scenarios in which we have overtaking happening, and it may look a little weird that one car can overtake so easily another car, it's important the spectators understand why that was so easy,' he said. He added that viewers should grasp situations like one car having a full battery while the car ahead has an empty one, making power unit management a crucial variable in racing and overtaking.
Beyond overtake mode, active aerodynamics will adjust front and rear wings between 'straight mode'—with lower angles of attack in designated zones, similar to DRS—and 'corner mode' for higher downforce in turns. Stella highlighted implications for energy use and car behavior: 'You consume much more energy if you don't open the wings,' and closed wings could cause more grounding and bottoming, audible on team radio.
By clarifying these elements, Stella believes F1 can keep fans engaged and sustain the spectacle that has driven the sport's recent popularity growth.
