2026 F1 Fan Guide — What the New Terms Mean
[Boost Button]
A driver-activated control on the steering wheel that lets a driver deploy stored electrical energy and engine power at any point on track. Boost can give a sudden surge of power or be spread out for longer effect.
Strategic impact: Drivers use it to attack or defend, selecting when and where to expend energy based on position, battery level, and race situation.
I asked AI how might a driver misapply the boost button to better understand what is at stake. Interesting answer. "A driver under pressure uses the Boost Button defensively on corner exit to hold position, not realizing the battery state is already marginal. The short-term gain keeps the attacker behind for half a lap, but the energy dump forces the car into a heavy recharge phase immediately afterward. On the next straight, the driver has no Boost available, reduced electrical assist, and slower acceleration just as the rival activates Overtake Mode. The defending driver is then passed easily, having spent their energy at the wrong moment.
This is likely in year one because drivers will still be learning:
How quickly Boost drains usable energy
How recharge timing affects the next straight, not just the current one
When defense costs more than it saves
In other words, the mistake is not pressing Boost, but pressing it one corner too early, turning a defensive move into a delayed vulnerability."
I am curious if an aggressive driver will use it at the wrong time and crash their car .
[Overtake Mode]
Replaces the old DRS system. If a driver is within one second of the car ahead at a detection point (usually at the end of the final corner), Overtake Mode activates on the following lap, giving an extra +0.5 MJ of energy and a stronger electric power profile for longer high-speed deployment.
Strategic impact: Designed to boost overtaking — drivers can close gaps and make passing moves more effectively on long straights after activation.
[Active Aero]
Front and rear wings can adjust their angles dynamically. In corners the wings stay positioned for maximum downforce, and on straights they open up for lower drag and higher top speed. Drivers operate Active Aero in designated zones, with automatic changes in braking or lift-off conditions.
Strategic impact: Provides constant aerodynamic advantage every lap — players can balance downforce and drag to suit battle situations without a one-second requirement like the old DRS.
[Recharge]
Energy harvested to recharge the battery. This happens when braking, during part-throttle usage, lifting off early (lift-off regen), or in specific full-throttle situations called “super clipping.” Most recharge is managed by engine maps, but drivers have some control over when recharge happens and how it interacts with other systems.
Strategic impact: Energy management becomes a race-long tactic — drivers build battery charge where they can so they can use Boost and Overtake Mode at key moments.
*(Details pulled from this article on F1's website - Summarized with the help of AI)
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