The head of Williams, James Vowles, believes that passing maneuvers will be significantly altered in the 2026 Formula 1 season, placing greater emphasis on driver skill rather than technological assistance.
The racing series is currently implementing what many consider to be the most substantial regulatory shift in its history, involving complete redesigns of both the chassis and the powertrain.
There will be a greater focus on electrical power, aiming for an almost equal division between it and the internal combustion engine, in addition to creating lighter and more compact vehicles with the intention of fostering closer racing and more overtaking opportunities.
Despite initial reservations from drivers following simulator testing, with Charles Leclerc expressing concerns about the cars being “less enjoyable,” Vowles suggests that they are now embracing the challenge of adapting to the upcoming modifications.
During the team principal press conference leading up to the Singapore Grand Prix, Vowles addressed the subject, stating: “Overtaking will be different, but it will still occur; it will simply happen in a different manner than what you’re accustomed to now.”
He continued, “The drivers initially felt it wasn’t ideal, but after a second attempt, they found it interesting. By the third or fourth try, these race drivers were genuinely engaged, discovering a unique approach to optimization and recognizing where advantages could be gained.”
James Vowles, Team Principal, Williams Racing
Photo by: Shameem Fahath / Motorsport Network
“So, from that vantage point, I anticipate it will be quite intriguing, and I genuinely believe it will lead to an increase in overtaking, albeit not in the areas you might anticipate. That’s probably the most accurate way to describe it.”
He further noted that the primary overtaking locations on a circuit may be subject to change, citing Spa as an illustration and suggesting that there will be reduced emphasis on making a pass at the beginning of the Kemmel Straight.
This is due to the replacement of DRS with an upcoming manual override system, effectively a push-to-pass button, which provides the following car with additional energy beyond 280km/h.
Given the heightened dependence on electrical energy, Vowles posits that it will favor drivers who possess a more intimate understanding of their car, as opposed to those who merely depend on DRS to execute overtakes.
“Based on the current regulations, I anticipate that drivers will be more occupied in the cockpit,” he remarked. “I don’t view that as a negative; I believe that those who ultimately succeed will be the ones who have complete mastery over their car and its behavior, while also thinking creatively.”
“The key distinctions lie in the fact that you can almost fully replenish the battery during a single braking zone, but you can deplete it entirely on just one straight. This introduces a fundamentally different dynamic compared to what we experience this year.”
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Carlos Sainz, Williams, Franco Colapinto, Alpine
Photo by: Andy Hone / LAT Images via Getty Images
However, the precise nature of the upcoming year remains largely uncertain as teams continue to refine their 2026 cars. The initial opportunity to observe them on the track will occur during pre-season testing, with three sessions scheduled for the beginning of the year.
A five-day private test is scheduled in Barcelona from January 26-30, followed by two separate three-day sessions in Bahrain leading up to the Melbourne opener in March.
Aston Martin’s Andy Cowell, who participated in the same session as Vowles, anticipates that the opening session will appear significantly different from that of 2025 due to the new regulations.
“During the Barcelona test, are we all going to cover 800 kilometers each day, as we did in Bahrain ten months ago? The answer is no,” he stated.
“We’ll be integrating everything, ensuring that everything functions properly, and verifying that the car can complete laps and return to the pit lane under its own power.”
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– The Autosport.com Team
