Why a Key Part of F1’s 2026 Regulations Is Still Unfinished
The FIA has deliberately left several options open to react after Barcelona testing, maintaining flexibility on critical elements like overtake mode as Formula One’s biggest technical reset approaches.
The FIA has intentionally left several regulatory aspects open—what Nikolas Tombazis calls « levers »—to adjust if the on-track picture proves unsatisfactory.
Deliberate Flexibility
At the end of January, the first collective test with 2026 machinery will take place in Barcelona. While much of the 2026 rulebook has been finalized, the FIA has intentionally left several aspects somewhat open—what Nikolas Tombazis, the FIA’s single-seater director, calls « levers » that the governing body can adjust if the on-track picture proves unsatisfactory in any way.
This deliberate flexibility represents a pragmatic approach to F1’s most significant regulation change in decades. With completely new power units, chassis designs, and aerodynamic concepts all arriving simultaneously, the FIA recognizes that theoretical projections may not perfectly match track reality.
The Barcelona test, running January 26-30 behind closed doors, will provide the first real-world data from 2026 cars. The FIA plans to compare these on-track numbers with earlier simulations, using the results to inform potential regulatory adjustments before the season begins.
Overtake Mode: The Biggest Work in Progress
One of the primary elements still being refined concerns overtaking. DRS has disappeared from Formula One, replaced by active aerodynamics that every driver can use on every straight, both at the front and rear of the car. This fundamental change led to the introduction of « overtake mode, » which bears some resemblance to IndyCar’s push-to-pass system.
How Overtake Mode Works
Tombazis explained the dual operation: « It is something that will permit the cars within one second of the car ahead to a) recover more energy around the lap, about half a megajoule more energy, and b) deploy additional power. »
The system aims to give attacking drivers both extra energy recovery and deployment capability, creating overtaking opportunities without making passes too easy or too difficult. Finding this balance represents one of 2026’s biggest regulatory challenges.
The Activation Zone Challenge
Perhaps the most significant aspect still under development concerns the exact length of activation zones for overtake mode. This remains a work in progress as the FIA seeks the right balance: overtaking should not be too difficult, but it must remain a genuine challenge rather than a formality.
« We are still fine-tuning that. We have levers that we can adjust from a regulatory point of view. We have levers to make it a bit easier, or if we find it too easy, we have levers to make it a bit more challenging. »Nikolas Tombazis, FIA Single-Seater Director
The philosophy behind this approach is clear: « We don’t want overtaking to be in a narrow window. We don’t want guys just driving past each other and not having a fight. We always want to have this fight. But we also don’t want it to be impossible, so that after lap 1 you know how [they’ll] get to the finish. »
- Activation Zone Length: Extending or shortening track sections where overtake mode can be used
- Energy Recovery Amount: The extra 0.5 megajoule recovery could be adjusted up or down
- Deployment Power: Additional power available for deployment could be modified
- Frequency Restrictions: Limits on how often overtake mode can be used per lap or race
- Proximity Requirements: The one-second gap required could be tightened or loosened
Energy Management: A New Strategic Dimension
Beyond overtake mode, another key factor adds complexity to 2026 racing. Energy management by drivers will become much more important than in previous regulations, meaning differences between cars can arise at specific points around the track.
If one driver deploys more energy while another harvests, it could theoretically create larger speed differences than currently seen. This dynamic has led some team principals to predict overtaking at « unusual places » on circuits—corners or straights where passing rarely occurs under current regulations.
« Differences in energy can create a situation where one car is maybe not able to defend the position as well. »
The Power Unit Manufacturer Challenge
Tombazis acknowledged that finalizing these regulations faces additional complications from power unit manufacturers’ competing interests. When asked about different manufacturers potentially disagreeing on optimal solutions, he provided a candid assessment.
This political dimension adds complexity to the FIA’s decision-making process. Power unit manufacturers—Mercedes, Ferrari, Honda, Renault, and Red Bull Powertrains—each have their own competitive interests. Solutions that benefit some manufacturers may disadvantage others, creating resistance to certain regulatory approaches.
Recent Loophole Concerns
Adding to the regulatory uncertainty, reports emerged in early January 2026 of potential loopholes in power unit regulations that some manufacturers may have exploited. According to PlanetF1, the FIA planned a meeting with technical experts for January 22—just days before Barcelona testing begins.
Compression Ratio Interpretation Concerns
Article C.5.4.3 of the 2026 Technical Regulations states that « No cylinder of the engine may have a geometric compression ratio higher than 16.0. » However, speculation suggests this has been interpreted by some manufacturers as requiring this ratio only when measured in ambient conditions, potentially allowing higher ratios when running on track.
Reports named Mercedes and Red Bull Powertrains as manufacturers of particular concern to competitors, with Ferrari understood to have expressed concerns to the FIA. Honda and Audi reportedly followed suit, seeking clarification on the matter.
The Barcelona Test: Critical Data Collection
The Barcelona test represents the FIA’s most important opportunity to gather real-world data before finalizing regulatory details. Running behind closed doors from January 26-30, this five-day session allows teams to run their completely new 2026 cars without public scrutiny of lap times or performance levels.
Barcelona’s selection as the first test venue reflects its longstanding role in Formula One testing. The circuit offers a rounded blend of corners, mixing high and low-speed content while presenting varied challenges for tires.
The Regulatory Levers Available
Tombazis referenced having « levers » the FIA can adjust based on Barcelona testing results. These regulatory tools allow the governing body to fine-tune 2026 rules without fundamental changes.
Making Overtaking Easier
Longer activation zones, increased energy recovery, higher deployment power, relaxed proximity requirements, fewer frequency restrictions.
Making Overtaking Harder
Shorter activation zones, reduced energy recovery, lower deployment power, stricter proximity requirements, more frequency restrictions.
Beyond overtake mode, the FIA maintains flexibility on other aspects including energy management parameters, active aerodynamics deployment rules, and potentially power unit specifications if significant performance disparities emerge.
Timeline for Finalization
The timeline for finalizing remaining regulatory aspects follows the Barcelona test closely:
The Philosophy: Racing Quality Over Rigidity
The FIA’s approach to 2026 regulations reflects a philosophical shift toward pragmatic flexibility rather than rigid adherence to pre-season projections. Tombazis and his colleagues recognize that no amount of simulation perfectly predicts how revolutionary new regulations will function in competitive racing.
« We have ways to go in both directions, » Tombazis emphasized when discussing overtaking difficulty. This bidirectional flexibility—the ability to make passing easier or harder as needed—represents intelligent regulatory design for unprecedented technical changes.
What’s at Stake
The success of 2026 regulations depends significantly on getting overtaking right. If the new overtake mode and active aerodynamics create processional racing where passing proves too difficult, Formula One faces complaints similar to those that plagued the 2017-2021 era. If overtaking becomes too easy, races lose tension and strategic depth.
Energy management adds another dimension. If done well, it creates strategic variety and rewards driver skill. If poorly balanced, it could create dangerous speed differentials or eliminate close racing.
Conclusion
The FIA’s decision to leave key aspects of 2026 regulations unfinished until after Barcelona testing represents intelligent regulatory design rather than indecision. By maintaining flexibility on critical elements like overtake mode activation zones, the governing body can respond to track reality rather than defending theoretical projections.
Nikolas Tombazis’s acknowledgment of having « levers » to adjust regulations demonstrates sophisticated understanding of the challenges inherent in Formula One’s most comprehensive technical reset. With chassis and power unit regulations changing simultaneously, unexpected consequences are almost inevitable.
The Barcelona test will provide the first real-world evidence of how 2026 cars perform. Based on this data, the FIA can make informed decisions about finalizing regulatory details while balancing power unit manufacturer politics and prioritizing what’s best for Formula One overall.
Formula One fans should view unfinished regulations not as concerning uncertainty but as intelligent contingency planning. The governing body has built the tools needed to ensure 2026 delivers competitive, entertaining racing regardless of what the first test reveals.