FORMULA 1 LAS VEGAS GP LEWIS HAMILTON RUMOURS

nterlagos, Sao Paulo, Brazil, Sunday 9 November 2025 - Fernando Alonso (ESP) Aston Martin F1 Team - Photo: Race Pictures

Alonso shares scepticism surrounding overtaking in F1 2026 regulations

15:26, 15 Nov

0 Comments

byShayni Solanki

Fernando Alonso shares his scepticism surrounding the 2026 Formula 1 regulations, claiming that overtaking possibilities will require more 'energy' than previously.

The two-time world champion admitted that the cars need to "hit the track" so the drivers and teams can understand "how much energy you need to spend per overtake and things like that."

Formula 1 is set to debut new regulations next season, hoping to improve overtaking possibilities by making the cars lighter and more agile.

When asked if he believes the next set of regulations will produce drastically different cars, Alonso said: "I don't think so.

“I think at the end of the day, the car remains, you know, the sport remains basically the same. A race against time and the race against your competitors.

“I don’t think it will be because of different performance in the car, maybe a little bit less grip because the regulations and the downforce will be lower."

Fernando Alonso ahead of the Mexican Grand Prix - Photo: Race Pictures

The only question I have in my mind is just the overtaking possibilities. That, in my mind, is still an open point.

- Fernando Alonso

The Aston Martin driver is anticipating a shift in the way the cars eat up energy during overtaking possibilities, indicating that climbing up the field would be much harder than before.

“The only question I have in my mind is just the overtaking possibilities," Alonso continued, "that, in my mind, is still an open point.

“I think driving at the simulator and by reading the rules, everyone is allowed to open the DRS [Z’ and ‘X’ overtake modes] on the straights, the car in front and the car behind.

“So, there is not really a possibility to make the difference unless you use a lot of energy on that straight.

“But if you use that energy, you will pay the price on the following straights. So, maybe you get re-overtaken by the car that you just overtook."

Read also

“And I think the biggest thing is the tyres. When we have a three or four-stop race, the difference in tyre performance when you make a stop or whatever, you don’t need any energy or you don’t need any DRS. You make the pass immediately in the out-lap.

“So, I think the tyres will be the main topic to improve overtaking. If they are degrading and if they are providing multiple stops. So, that’s probably the thing that we wish as a spectator or as a show factor.”

Having taken on Adrian Newey for the next set of regulations, Aston Martin is hoping to secure more success than in this era in Formula 1.

The drag reduction system (DRS) will be scrapped heading into 2026 and will be replaced by two 'power-boost' modes.

Drivers will have the opportunity to open elements on the front and rear wings, rather than just the rear, to increase downforce through the corners using 'Z-mode.'

Using 'X-mode' will allow drivers to reduce drag on the straights, increasing overtaking opportunities at all points on a circuit.

GPblog's latest F1 Paddock Update

Want to stay up-to-date with what happens in the F1 paddock? Then GPblog's F1 Paddock Update video is the perfect way to do it. Subscribe to GPblog's YouTube channel and turn on notifications to never miss the latest episodes.