FIA Confirms Driver-Activated ‘X-Mode’ for F1 2026 Low-Drag Settings
The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) has announced that the anticipated low-drag “X-Mode” for Formula 1 cars in 2026 will be activated by the driver. This feature will enable teams to optimize their cars’ aerodynamic efficiency on straightaways, potentially leading to faster lap times. The X-Mode will be a temporary operating mode that can be used during specific track sections, such as long straights where drag reduction is essential. Drivers will have the discretion to activate and deactivate the mode using a dedicated button on their steering wheel. The FIA’s Technical Director, Nikolas Tombazis, explained the rationale behind the driver-activated approach: “We want to give drivers an element of control over their car’s performance. By allowing them to choose when to engage X-Mode, we are creating opportunities for strategic decision-making and exciting racing.” The FIA has also clarified that the X-Mode will only be available during dry conditions. This restriction is intended to prevent teams from using the low-drag settings in wet or slippery circumstances, where stability and traction are paramount. The development of the X-Mode has been part of the FIA’s broader push to improve F1 car performance while reducing lap times. The 2026 technical regulations will feature several other changes, including a new engine formula and a simplified aerodynamic concept. Team principals have welcomed the introduction of the X-Mode, seeing it as a valuable tool to enhance the racing spectacle. However, they have also stressed the importance of ensuring that the feature does not disrupt the overall balance of performance. The FIA will continue to monitor the implementation and use of the X-Mode throughout the 2026 season. Any necessary adjustments or tweaks to the regulations may be made based on feedback from teams and drivers.An outline of the 2026 Formula One (F1) regulations was presented to the media on Thursday. However, several F1 teams raised concerns regarding particular aspects of the proposed rules, especially those involving the implementation of active aerodynamics.An outline of the 2026 Formula One (F1) regulations was presented to the media on Thursday. However, several F1 teams raised concerns regarding particular aspects of the proposed rules, especially those involving the implementation of active aerodynamics. Initially, it was unclear whether the driver would control the activation of X mode, which reduces the drag on the car’s front and rear wings on designated straights, or whether it would be automatically deployed during a race. At a press conference on Saturday, Jan Monchaux, the FIA’s single-seater technical director, clarified that it would make sense to use the same deployment approach as the current DRS system, where the driver triggers it with a button on the steering wheel. “All of this is currently still being discussed with the teams. So it is not the case that we have fully described all the details of how and when you activate,” Monchaux explained. “The general line we will follow is similar to the DRS. So with the DRS, you have to tick the box at some point in terms of distance or lap time to the car in front of you, and then the driver can bet. “But it is a driver who presses a button and activates the DRS and closes it again. We think the approach for X-Mode would be exactly the same. “A number of conditions are met, such as very low or no lateral acceleration, which allows you to effectively exit the corner. If these conditions are checked, the driver will press [the button] and it will not be automated. “Then its DRS and the front wing open to go into low drag. Shortly before they arrive in the braking zone, they will deactivate it. And if not, it will cause it to be deactivated.” The introduction of DRS also raises safety concerns, according to Monchaux, and the FIA will take a rigorous approach to mitigate any potential risks from its implementation. Since the reduced drag generated by X mode is anticipated to result in considerably faster top speeds, it’s critical to ensure that a driver does not become stuck in that mode when braking for corners. Otherwise, this could lead to accidents at high speeds as drivers struggle to slow down from speeds exceeding 350 km/h. “The approach to the failure analysis to which the system could be subjected will be subject to the same approach that was applied at the time with the DRS,” said the former Sauber technical director. “And we will simply take the same extremely rigorous approach, ensuring that when the system is deployed for the first time during winter testing, it simply does what it is supposed to do and is not subject to ongoing reliability issues or, worse, the safety. “It is to be expected that a few teams will have some hiccups during the first winter test, but I sincerely think that the experience gained over the years with the DRS should be perfectly transferable to the front. “Therefore the system won’t be a huge challenge for the teams in terms of ‘can we get it running’ and ‘can we get it running safely and reliably’, because it will be almost on any straight line. We’re not too worried about that.”
F1 2026’s ‘X-Mode’ Will Be Driver-Activated
The FIA has confirmed that the new low-drag ‘X-mode’ in Formula 1 for 2026 will be driver-activated. The mode, which is designed to reduce drag on straights and increase straight-line speed, will be available to drivers to use at their discretion. It is believed that the ‘X-mode’ could provide a significant performance advantage, so it will be interesting to see how teams and drivers use it throughout the race. The FIA’s decision to make the mode driver-activated gives more control to the drivers and could lead to some exciting strategic battles on track.
