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Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz Jr. are worried about the proliferation of moveable aero parts in the upcoming 2026 generation of F1 cars.
Audi will enter F1 in 2026 (Image Credit: Getty Images)The 2026 Formula One World Championship will see a whole host of changes to the current rules and regulations. Cars are expected to become smaller, have an increase in electrical power and the internal combustion engines will run on fully sustainable fuel to name a few. Some of these rules have been introduced to entice car manufacturer Audi to enter the sport.
However, a new, rather controversial change has recently been revealed. As well as a moveable rear wing which current f1 cars exhibit in the shape of DRS, 2026 rules will see the addition of active front wing elements as well in an effort to increase overall aerodynamic stability.
Defending Champion and current Championship leader Max Verstappen is against this development, and thinks that future designs should focus on other ways of improving overtaking and promoting closer racing. The 26-year-old criticised some of the 2026 regulations in the past.
He told motorsport.com: “With the potential like active aero and stuff, I’m not sure if we should head into that direction, but that’s what it’s looking like at the moment. Hopefully, we can optimise all these kinds of things.
“For me, it’s more important to just try and fight the weight of the cars, try and optimise that instead of all these tools and tricks to try and help the overtaking or following. There must be different ways to be able to do it.
“Of course, people will try to counter my arguments, but I guess we’ll find out anyway in ’26”, concluded Verstappen.
Sainz also afraid of upcoming regulations
Carlos Sainz Jr., who recently won the Australian Grand Prix, is worried about the increasing complexity of F1 cars, and thinks designs should go back to basics to help liven up the racing action.
He blames the reduced engine power expected for 2026 for the necessity of increased active aero, stating: “I think it’s all a consequence of the engine regulations. In the end, if you have a lot more energy requested from the electric powertrain, you’re going to need to have, in a way, active aerodynamics to compensate.
“And this is where it all starts to get messy with the overtaking and the active aero, and how you can do that to help the car to go quicker on the straight and spend less time full throttle.”
Like Verstappen however, Sainz thinks it’s unfair to make conclusions on preliminary tests when the 2026 season is still far away. He added: “Anyway, until we try them, it is unfair to criticise or to back the regulation change.”
Feature Image Credit: Getty Images