Red Bull Racing Chief Technical Officer Adrian Newey has revealed that future plans to implement active aero into Formula 1 don’t “concern” him”.
The FIA has already set in stone new power unit regulations for 2026 and beyond, which will see an increased reliance on the electrical components of the hybrid powertrain.
This has caused some concerns that energy recovery could become an issue, but FIA Single Seater Director Nikolas Tombazis has downplayed this.
Attention is now turning to the direction of chassis/bodywork regulations for 2026 and Tombazis has hinted that a rethink of the active aero element DRS (Drag Reduction System) could be employed in a greater capacity – something that Newey welcomes.
“It doesn’t concern me,” Newey told Autosport.
“The more active aero is really to try to make up for a power unit that’s lacking in energy.
“The active aero becomes essential to make up for the power unit that’s lacking in energy. But I don’t think that’s a bad thing at all.
“Trying to drive for greater aerodynamic efficiency of the vehicle is clearly a good goal.
“And why should active aero not be part of that?
“After all, it’s become a part of it in road cars.
“There’s a huge amount of cars you see with spoilers lopping up and down on the boot lid and so forth.
“So, why not have that in racing?
“Active aero only got a bad name when wings were falling off back in the ’60s. We’re well beyond that now.
“F1 typically has been a good way to popularise things on road cars.
“If you look way back, things like disc brakes [that has been the case].
“But then [also] slightly more recently carbon fibre sportscars – fake or real carbon fibre trim etc.
“All those things that a buyer in the high street wants an association and manufacturers of course provide that association.
“So, active aero has to be the future of road cars, so I think it’s appropriate that Formula 1 should be showing, displaying the power of it.”
F1’s ability to reflect real-world motoring has a big part to play in attracting manufacturers to the sport.
For instance, the 2026 engine regulations that saw the complicated MGU-H system removed for a more ‘traditional’ hybrid powertrain have encouraged the likes of Audi and Ford to join F1 as engine suppliers in 2026, with Honda also returning.
Further focus on the 2026 regulations will see the FIA focus on reducing the mass and size of the cars in a bid to improve racing.
Nowt but good sense from Adrian Newey, as always.