By Carlo Platella
In just under a year, FIA and Formula 1 will release the 2026 technical regulations for the aerodynamic part, in addition to those on power units published in 2022. The simulations carried out highlighted some problems, linked above all to the difficulties in recharging the hybrid part, whose power will rise to 50% of the overall one. Active aerodynamics have been proposed as a solution to reduce drag and energy consumption, but Red Bull technical director Pierre Waché highlights the importance of more structural changes.
Waché's appeal
The Red Bull technical director gave an interview to the editorial staff of Autosport.comcommenting on the results of the latest simulations on the 2026 regulations. “The speed drops and the sensations are not so good”, Waché's words, which lend themselves to a double interpretation. The drop in speed, in fact, can be a simple comparison with the current performance of the cars, but it can also refer to a progressive loss of speed from the beginning to the end of the straight. This because the heat engine will be used as a generator to recharge the battery, thus giving up some of the pushing power.
To maintain performance despite the lower thrust, the organizers work to reduce the resistance to forward movement on the straight. For this, active aerodynamics is seen as part of the solution, but Waché warns: “You can't patch things up to get something. You have to look at the problem with a broader vision and ask yourself 'How can I solve this? What features does the car need to achieve something?' If you need a fix to fix something, you can still do it later, but you don't start from that. Otherwise, it will never work.”
FIA and Formula 1 are working to improve the basic aerodynamic efficiency of the next single-seaters. “They will be aerodynamically much more efficient cars, of a nice factor. Even without the activation of active systems, they will have less resistance,” the confirmation of Nikolas Tombazis in September at FormulaPassion. The 2026 Formula 1 cars will be shorter, narrower and with smaller tyres, while the weight will also drop, with the ambition of saving 50 kg. Also for this reason, limiting the number of active aerodynamic devices will be important with a view to saving weight.
A problem of approach
In the same interview, Pierre Waché criticizes the Federation's approach to the 2026 regulations, which has led to the issues that organizers and teams are now trying to remedy: “The point is they didn't think about the concept of togetherness at the same time. First they defined the engine regulations and now we have to deal with them on the chassis side to compensate for the problems we have.”
A similar objection was also raised by FormulaPassion to Nikolas Tombazis during another interview in July 2022. At the time, however, the Greek engineer assured that the motoring and aerodynamic regulations continued hand in hand: “The power unit regulations go together with the rest of the car from a performance development point of view. Engine regulations will need certain aerodynamic characteristics to have a complete package. We we have already carried out feasibility studies in the aerodynamic part, to make sure that the objectives we set are realistic and not ambitious”.
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