All articles tagged with #overtaking
At the Australian Grand Prix, drivers praised the number of overtakes but criticized F1's 2026 hybrid rules—particularly the 50/50 ICE-to-battery power split and energy modes like Straight Mode—that can sap power and make passing feel artificial, raising safety concerns; paddock politics are emerging as teams and the FIA consider tweaks ahead of Shanghai.
Formula One team principals are calling for changes to the Monaco Grand Prix track layout to improve overtaking opportunities, as current constraints and race strategies have led to a lack of on-track passes and a race largely decided by pit stops and luck. They suggest modifications to the circuit or regulations to make racing more competitive and dynamic.
Alex Wurz proposes three feasible modifications to Monaco's F1 circuit—moving the Nouvelle chicane, reprofiling Rascasse, and widening the Fairmont hairpin—to enhance overtaking opportunities while maintaining the circuit's character.
Christian Horner suggests that Monaco's circuit should be modernized to improve overtaking opportunities, criticizing the current layout and the size of modern F1 cars, and advocating for changes to keep the race exciting and relevant to contemporary racing standards.
Christian Horner advocates for significant changes to Monaco's track layout and car regulations to promote overtaking and reduce the race's procession-like nature, citing the track's outdated design and the increasing size of F1 cars as key issues. Despite recent rule tweaks, he believes more drastic measures are needed to make Monaco more competitive and exciting.
In 2026, F1 will introduce new active aerodynamics with moveable front and rear wings, replacing DRS. The system will feature two modes: high-downforce Z-mode for cornering and low-drag X-mode for straights, controlled by drivers at pre-defined track points. To aid overtaking, a manual override engine mode will provide extra power, allowing following cars to pass.
The Monaco Grand Prix has become less exciting due to the increased size of F1 cars and limited overtaking opportunities. While track modifications have been suggested, a simpler solution proposed by drivers like George Russell and Lewis Hamilton is to use only soft tyres for the race. This would force multiple pit stops and create varied strategies, potentially making the race more thrilling without the need for expensive track changes.
The Portland E-Prix saw a record 403 overtaking moves, with drivers jostling for position while trying to save energy. Some writers praised the new racing style, while others criticized it as being too fabricated and counter-intuitive. Safety concerns were also raised due to the extreme lift-and-coasting. However, the podium trio of Nick Cassidy, Jake Dennis, and Antonio Felix da Costa showed the skill involved in handling this type of racing and positioning oneself at the front with the right amount of energy to deploy. Overall, the new racing style may generate new fans, but it remains to be seen if it will get old quickly.
Red Bull boss Christian Horner has called for the Monaco Grand Prix circuit to be adapted to boost overtaking opportunities and ensure its "long-term viability" on the Formula One calendar. While acknowledging the historic value of the street race, Horner said that if the track were proposed now, it would not be considered for modern-day F1. Ferrari race director Laurent Mekies, however, argued that the layout should be left alone for the sake of preserving its unique character and history.
Fernando Alonso has backed the FIA's decision to shorten DRS zones for the upcoming F1 Miami GP, citing data from last year's races that showed both tracks were among the easiest for overtaking under DRS. Alonso also acknowledged that it has become harder to follow cars ahead this year due to the development of cars to the new aero rules. He suggested that behind the two Red Bulls, the field is so tightly-packed that overtaking isn't easy, and the tyres still get overheated quite heavily if you follow cars.
The FIA has shortened the first two of three DRS zones for the upcoming Miami GP, reducing the activation points by 75 metres each. The changes have been made to better balance overtaking on a circuit-by-circuit basis. The tweaks are not related to the DRS reduction at last weekend's Azerbaijan GP. The Miami International Autodrome has also been fully repaved and received minor layout tweaks, while the run-off areas and barriers have been reduced and re-aligned.
Toto Wolff, the Mercedes team principal, has called on Formula One to prevent a repeat of the uneventful Azerbaijan Grand Prix, which he described as "boring." The race was largely a procession due to the difficulty of overtaking in Baku. Red Bull's Sergio Pérez won from teammate Max Verstappen in a dominant one-two, leaving the chasing teams of Ferrari, Aston Martin, and Mercedes powerless. Wolff acknowledged that it was not good promotion for the sport and called for more data sets to be analyzed to improve the situation.
The FIA has shortened the DRS zone for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku by 100 metres, reducing the distance the drag reduction system can be used on the main straight. The move is in line with F1's efforts to fine-tune the balance between improving the show and making overtaking too trivial. Baku is the fourth of five F1 circuits to have undergone tweaks to the DRS zones. The Baku City Circuit has also been resurfaced ahead of its sixth running of the race.
The FIA has moved the third DRS activation point for the Saudi F1 GP to prevent drivers from braking erratically into the final corner and avoid "cat-and-mouse games". The Jeddah Corniche street circuit has also been modified for the second year in a row to improve visibility and address safety concerns. The ultra-fast circuit has been made slightly slower with the addition of a bevelled kerb through the high-speed left-right sequence at Turns 22 and 23, which is expected to reduce speeds by 50km/h.