Why consensus on F1's impending active aero revolution remains some way off

There was a frisson of excitement among fans when Formula 1 and the FIA revealed plans for the drastic 2026 rules overhaul. It came in a palpably understated fashion when compared to the 2022 revolution, which was marked by a return to ground-effect aerodynamics and visually different cars; the extravagant launch of F1’s now-ubiquitous showcar daubed in a holographic livery was not repeated this time.

Instead, renders were shuffled out on social media displaying a blue car heavy in FIA logos, giving a very different impression – that F1 had been responsible for much of 2022’s layout, and the 2026 changes were very much an FIA-led project. And there was a step into the familiar with the reveal, particularly with the design of the front and rear wings; the smooth transition of wing elements into the endplates has been rolled back on, and the designs simplified overall.