FIA “surprise” lap by focusing on time because it shows how slow the 2026 F1 cars can be

Regulatory overhaul plan for 2026 The Formula 1 is already one of the main points in Padock.

Drivers have talked about “different spirit” based on their first simulator run, while the questions have also arisen whether the F1 will become more than the “Energy Management Championship”.

A third variable that often manifest is related to the lap time of new cars. With a low downforce generation, the lap time will be obtained in 2026: The new cars will be faster on the straits than the current generation, but will slow down in the corners.

First indication of new cars: “Surely not slow as F2”

Overall, F1’s next generation of cars will be slightly slow, but according to the FIA, certainly not to the extent that fans will notice too much. “First, I am a little surprised by how much emphasis is given at the time of the actual lap,” Nicholas Tombazis said during an interview with Motorsports.com, director of the FIA’s single-seater.

“We have different stages of sports when cars are slow or fast, and I think once you get used to it, it’s fine. If you get out of a simulator or go from a car to another in real life that is a second and a half slow, then you initially think that it is not a good car, because you feel that you feel that once a half.”

According to Tombazis, this applies not only to drivers but also to fans. “I don’t really think the lap time is going to be a factor, when people get used to these cars. I think it’s a comment that you do when you see the delta, but I don’t think it will be clearly a factor, nor will it be very different from now.”

Tombzis also shared the first indication of next year’s Lap Times: “The new cars in our simulation will be between one and two-and-a-half seconds at the beginning of the rules, and clearly there will be growth that will lead to them.”

Saying that, there are still some questions – for the FIA. “In fairness, we do not have data from all teams, we do not know the exact level of downforce from all teams. Possible, some teams that do not get it right can be slightly slower than our simulation, but we do not expect lap time.”

According to a single-seater director, what matters is close racing instead of pure lap times: “I am a little surprised why people really care. Clearly if we slow the cars as F2 or do anything like this, then obviously people will have something to say about it, but it is not surely the case.”

How powerful will manual overred mode be instead of DRS?

In addition to the lap Times, another change for 2026 will disappear of DRS. With the introduction of active aerodynamics (X-Mode and Z-Mode), each driver will have a low-drag configuration on the straits, effectively providing a form of permanent DRS. The opening of the rear wing as a “overtaking tool” is called a manual overroid mode-a boost that resembles a “push-to-pas” in Indycar to some extent.

Asked how powerful the boost would be, Tombazis explained: “This is one of the things we are now, when the driver is testing these cars in the simulator. They have obtained similarities with DRS, but also the differences on the basis of the track. Straits, or very difficult, where you do not get adequately closer.

“The fintuning that is happening at this time is to ensure that this overrid boost gives you the right volume to be able to reach the point. It will not be the same for each circuit, but it is really the work that is happening at this time.”