Formula 1 is working on a major change set to completely transform overtaking

For years, Formula 1 had the drag reduction system (DRS). If a driver was within one second of the car ahead, acceleration and top speed were increased by moving an element of the rear wing to reduce drag. However, this did not increase engine power.

IndyCar, for example, does have a similar system. During every race that is not held on an oval, drivers are allowed to use extra power for between 150 and 200 seconds. They can decide for themselves when to deploy it at the press of a button.

This makes it possible to overtake an opponent, defend against a charging rival, or set a faster lap time. The extra power can be used for a maximum of twenty seconds at a time.

Formula 1 is looking at that system with great interest, while other, comparable options are also being considered for 2031. A system could be implemented via turbo pressure, via DRS, or via the classic KERS. In this way, F1 teams want to prevent future races from turning into DRS trains that make overtaking impossible.

From 2031, F1 teams and the FIA want to use “simpler” engines. There is a strong preference for roaring V8 engines. However, a final decision on this has not yet been made.