How do the 2026 cars change strategy at the Hungaroring?
The 2026 cars drop DRS for active aero and an electric Overtake boost, and run a power unit that is roughly half electric. The Hungaroring has almost no long straights, so the aero and boost matter less here than at fast tracks. The bigger effect is energy management on a lap of constant corners, on top of the circuit's existing problems of heat, high tyre degradation, and how hard it already is to overtake.
What changed on the car
For 2026 the cars carry active aerodynamics with a Straight Mode that opens the wing flaps to cut drag and a Corner Mode that keeps downforce, and DRS is gone because everyone sheds drag on the straights[1][2]. The overtaking aid is now a manual Overtake boost, available within one second of the car ahead, drawn from extra electric power rather than a wing flap[2]. The power unit is close to a 50-50 split between engine and electric, with deployable electric power rising from 120 kW to 350 kW[3].
Why the Hungaroring is different
The knock-on for tyres and stops
The constant cornering and summer heat already make tyre degradation the limiting factor here[4]. How the new aero balance and the differently powered cars work those tyres over a stint is something teams can only learn once running begins.
Related reading
- [1]2026 aerodynamic regulations explained (Formula 1) (formula1). Accessed 2026-07-04.
- [2]How F1's new active aero will work in 2026 as DRS is dropped (Motorsport) (motorsport). Accessed 2026-07-04.
- [3]The beginner's guide to the 2026 regulations (Formula 1) (formula1). Accessed 2026-07-04.
- [4]Hungaroring (Wikipedia) (wikipedia-en). Accessed 2026-07-04.