Max Verstappen has voiced concerns over whether Formula 1 is heading in the right direction with plans for active aero for the sport’s 2026 regulation overhaul.
The pre-existing framework for the next generation of F1 cars will see smaller and lighter cars with a 50/50 split between internal combustion and electrical power.
While engine regulations for 2026 are set in stone having enticed brands such as Audi to enter the series for the first time, chassis regulations are still to be finalised.
The FIA has touted a switch to active aero systems; however, initial plans for a moveable rear wing have raised widespread doubts amongst both teams and drivers.
Trials with the adaptive rear wing system have taken place in teams’ simulators, but the change in aero balance is leading to a higher risk of spins accelerating on straights.
As a result, the FIA is now considering the implementation of a moveable front wing in addition to an active rear wing to make the change in aero balance more manageable.
Verstappen criticised the plans for the rules revamp, stating: “I mean, I think we’ll have to deal with some compromises on some tracks, you know, where you use a lot of energy per lap.
“And of course, you know, with the potential like active aero and stuff. I’m not sure if we should head into that direction. That’s what it’s looking like at the moment.
“Hopefully, we can optimise all these kind 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. I guess, also, with the engine regulation that they went into, they kind of need to do that to create the top speed and basically you know where the battery stops deploying and stuff. And yeah some tracks will work a bit better some tracks probably it’s a bit more on the edge.
“Of course people will try to counter my arguments but I guess we’ll find out anyway and in ‘26, but also I’m not really thinking, of course, too much about it because we have a lot of work in the seasons up until ‘26. But we’ll see if we can improve it a bit.”
Ferrari rival Carlos Sainz weighed in on the discussion, adding: “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 there 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.”
However, Sainz was cautious to criticise plans for the regulation reset without seeing the finalised framework in action.
“Until we try them, I think it’s unfair to criitcise or back the regulations,” he continued.
“At the same time, if it has attracted manufacturers, big manufacturers like Audi, into the sport, I think it’s something that it has to be appreciated and put into context.
“My personal view is that these cars now are probably just too big and too heavy. If I would have to change something for tomorrow, it would be that. And then the suspension, I think the suspensions are becoming a big talking point in a lot of the tracks and how we brought them into some corners and how taxing it can be for the driver.”
Sainz, whose F1 future is yet to be determined beyond 2024, also suggested that the FIA should consider the implementation of active suspension to improve driver health and safety.
“If we are going to have active aero, why not active suspension to protect the back of the drivers and to protect our own health and the safety of certain tracks?
“it’s clear that right now we are asking way too many things to the tracks and to the circuits, to the organisations, to change many small bumps that before we wouldn’t even feel with the ‘21 car, and now we just can spin or have a pretty big accident because of those situations.
“So if I would have to ask or add one thing for the ‘26 would be something to protect us a bit on that front.”
The 2026 aerodynamic regulations are set to be confirmed by the end of June this year.
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