F1 2026 terminology: Overtake mode, boost mode, active aero, recharge
Formula 1 has revealed the terminology it will use to refer to the technical complexities of the sport’s new 2026 rules.
F1 will make arguably the biggest rule change in its history next season, with new chassis and engine rules and the introduction of sustainable fuels.
The new engines, which remain 1.6-litre V6 turbo hybrids, have significantly increased electric capacity, requiring innovations in the cars’ aerodynamics.
Drivers will manage electrical energy throughout races, sometimes even during qualifying, to achieve optimal performance.
F1 and its governing body, the FIA, consulted with a group described as “a wide range of new, casual and core fans to understand what kind of terminology would help them better understand the key features of the new regulations”.
The statement said this involved “using third-party survey data and our 50,000 strong community ‘Fan Voice’, as well as consulting with the FIA, F1 teams and other technical experts to finalize and agree terms.”
The aim was to make a number of complex new areas of the sport as easy to understand for as wide an audience as possible.
For this reason, earlier terms for some devices, such as “x-mode” and “z-mode” for active aerodynamics, have been dropped in favor of descriptions that give a more direct and understandable indication of what the technology actually does.
