F1 2026: FIA SET TO ENABLE FUTURE DRS DURING SAFETY CAR AND WET CONDITIONS
The 2026 FIA Formula 1 cars will bring big changes, new engines, new technology, and a brand-new aerodynamic system called Straight Line Mode (SLM). It’s an upgrade of today’s DRS, designed to make the cars faster on the straights and help recharge their larger hybrid batteries.
Here’s how it works: when SLM is active, parts of the car’s front and rear wings open up to reduce drag, that’s the air resistance that slows cars down. The result? More speed and better energy recovery. Unlike DRS, which drivers can only use when chasing another car, SLM can be used freely in certain zones on the track chosen by the FIA.
At first, the FIA wanted to follow the same rules as DRS: SLM could only be used under green flag conditions and would be locked during yellow flags, Safety Car, or Virtual Safety Car. But all the teams disagreed.
Their reason makes sense, the 2026 cars are built around active aerodynamics. Their height from the ground, floor design, and suspension all depend on the wings being open on the straights. If the FIA were to suddenly close those wings during a slow lap, the car would create too much downforce and press itself into the ground. That could damage the floor or the wooden plank underneath, which is tightly regulated.
The teams also pointed out another problem. When a driver has to unlap himself at the end of a Safety Car period, he needs to drive fast, but with the wings closed, the car would be too low and risk scraping the floor. Because of that, the FIA is set to agree with letting the teams use SLM even during neutralized periods, as long as the track is dry.
Things get trickier in the wet. Normally, more downforce helps grip, but too much can push the car so close to the ground that the tyres skim over the water instead of cutting through it, leading to aquaplaning. To avoid this, the proposed rule for rain is:
- Rear wing closed
- Front wing half open (50%)
That setup reduces drag just enough to keep stability without making the car dangerous. Some engineers say this might make the front tyres lose heat and grip, but teams agree it’s a safer trade-off than risking aquaplaning or floor damage.
If the weather changes mid-race, teams will manually adjust the front wing setting, from 100% open in dry conditions to 50% in the wet, while changing tyres in the pit lane.
The infos have been collected by Roberto Chinchero of Motorsportcom Italy.
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