F1 News: Max Verstappen And Red Bull Designer Disagree Over 2026 Changes - "Very Awkward"

The 2026 Formula 1 season's shift towards active aerodynamics has sparked mixed responses from drivers like Max Verstappen and designers like Adrian Newey.

The 2026 season of Formula 1 is set to introduce a significant emphasis on active aerodynamics, a development that has elicited mixed reactions from drivers like three-time champion Max Verstappen and experts like Red Bull chief technical officer Adrian Newey.

Key Takeaways:

• Shift to Active Aerodynamics: The 2026 F1 season will introduce significant changes under the 'nimble car concept', focusing heavily on active aerodynamics, which allow for dynamic adjustments to the car's shape based on varying conditions.
• Varied Reactions in the F1 Community: Max Verstappen has voiced concerns over the loss of manual control in aerodynamics, whereas Red Bull's Adrian Newey sees the change as a necessary evolution in F1's technological landscape.
• Newey's Optimism Versus Verstappen's Concerns: Adrian Newey is not concerned by the shift and views active aerodynamics as key to compensating for future power units' reduced energy output. On the other hand, Verstappen prefers more control and is apprehensive about this new direction.

The new 'nimble car concept', is set to revolutionise the way cars adapt to racing conditions from 2026, with parts of the vehicle dynamically adjusting to the environment.

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen has openly expressed his discomfort with this upcoming change. 

“Then you have the active aerodynamics, which you [the driver] can’t control, the system will control it for you.

“It makes it very awkward to drive because I prefer to control it myself. Of course, when you are behind someone maybe you need more front or more rear, this kind of thing. If the system starts to control that for you, I don’t think that’s the right way forward.”

In contrast, Red Bull chief technical officer Adrian Newey, has a different take on this development. Newey sees the move towards active aerodynamics as a necessary step in the sport's progression. He believes that it is crucial, especially with the next generation of power units focusing on affordability and electrical power. Newey shared his thoughts with Motorsport.com: 

“It doesn’t concern me. The more active aero is really to try to make up for a power unit that’s lacking in energy.

"The active aero becomes essential to make up for the power unit that’s lacking in energy. But I don’t think that’s a bad thing at all.”