New terms to learn
From 2011 to today, Formula 1 fans have learned to get to know – and then get used to – the infamous DRSThe Drag Reduction System introduced to make overtaking in the race easier and which over the years has become an essential point of reference – for better or for worse – for drivers and teams. This though will soon be the pastas also witnessed by a funny person tweet already ‘nostalgic’ for Oscar Piastri.
Now that the FIA has presented the new rules for the 2026 season, it’s time to get acquainted with some other new terms which at the moment may seem strange but which will soon become common use for those who follow the Circus: the three main ones that seem to emerge from the new regulation pages are X-Mode, Z-Mode And Manual Override Mode.
Z-Mode and X-Mode
Let’s start from the first two terms, Z-Mode And X-Modewhich travel together and concern the aerodynamic part of the new Formula 1 cars. The cars that will take to the track in 2026 will in fact benefit from new active aerodynamic systems. The mechanism, which involves the use of movable front and rear wings – a sort of evolution of what is in fact the current DRS – will allow greater cornering speed with the use of ‘Z-Mode’, the ‘standard’ version . On the straights instead drivers who are chasing another car will be able to switch to X-Mode’a low-drag configuration designed to maximize straight-line speed and aid overtaking maneuvers.
Manual Override Mode
To explain the Manual Override Mode instead we can refer to the so-called Push to Pass of IndyCar. Its use, however – unlike what happens in the American car series – will not be free. Only when a pilot will be immediately behind another car will have this tool at his disposal, which will guarantee him a extra extra power. In fact, while the power of the car in front is reduced after 290 km/h and drops to zero at 355 km/h, the car following will benefit from a power ‘bonus’ which will provide 350 kW up to 337 km/h and +0 .5 MJ of additional energy.
#XMode #ZMode #Override #alphabet
