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The 2026 Formula One season marks the beginning of a new era, ushering in the most significant technical overhaul in the sport’s history.
Under the new regulations, the cars will be shorter, narrower and lighter – designed to be more agile, with the clear objective of producing more competitive racing.
Whether you’re a long-time follower or new to the sport, this next chapter introduces a wave of new terminology you’ll need to get across.
Here’s your essential guide to the key terms you’ll need to know for the 2026 F1 season.
Boost Mode is a driver-operated energy deployment tool from the Energy Recovery System (ERS) that unleashes maximum power from the engine and battery at the push of a button, anywhere on track.
This mode replaces the former DRS system. It enables drivers within one second of the car ahead to unleash additional power to attempt a pass. The system can be used in a single burst or managed across a lap, making it a strategic tool that promotes more competitive racing, and more dynamic overtaking opportunities.
Overtake Mode is not to be confused with Boost; the key difference being that Overtake Mode can only be used in specific on-track situations, while Boost can be activated anywhere, at any time.
Movable aerodynamic components on the car that adjust automatically (or electronically) depending on the part of the track – increasing downforce in corners and reducing drag on straights to keep the car in its optimal performance window.
Recharge mode refers to the process of harvesting and replenishing electrical energy back into the battery during a lap. This can be achieved in various ways – through energy recovery under braking, partial throttle application, engine clipping at the end of a straight, or the traditional lift-and-coast technique, where a driver eases off the throttle earlier than usual before a braking zone.
Emma has been on our television screens for over a decade. Most of her time in the industry has been spent at racetracks reporting at major motorsport events in Australia - from TCR and Superbikes to Porsche Sprint Challenge and Supercars. Emma has also hosted various MotoGP and F1 events interviewing the likes of Daniel Ricciardo and Jack Miller. Having previously presented on an automotive show, she made her move to the Drive family in 2020. Fiercely proud of her Italian heritage, Emma is a coffee loving, stylish-black wearing resident of Melbourne.
