⚙️2026 REGULATIONS — THE NEW ERA
Active Aero — a system that changes the position of the front and rear wings depending on the section of the circuit.
Straight Mode — a low-drag configuration used on designated straights to increase speed.
Corner Mode — a high-downforce configuration used for maximum grip through corners.
Full Active Aero — both the front and rear wings operate normally, primarily in dry conditions.
Partial Active Aero — only part of the system remains available due to rain, yellow flags or other safety restrictions.
Active Aero Disabled — Race Control completely prohibits the use of Straight Mode.
Overtake Mode — additional electrical power available to a driver who is within one second of the car ahead at the detection point.
Boost — driver-controlled deployment of stored electrical energy for attacking or defending.
Recharge — the process of recovering and storing electrical energy.
ADUO — Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities given to underperforming power unit manufacturers.
🏎 POWER UNIT — WHAT POWERS THE CAR
Power Unit — the complete propulsion system combining the combustion engine and electrical components.
ICE — the internal combustion engine.
MGU-K — the electrical unit that recovers energy under braking and provides additional power.
Energy Store — the battery used to store recovered electrical energy.
Turbocharger — a component that uses exhaust gases to increase engine performance.
Sustainable Fuel — fuel produced from sustainable sources without using new fossil carbon.
🛞 TYRES — COMPOUNDS AND CONDITIONS
🛞 Soft — the fastest dry-weather tyre, offering maximum grip but lower durability.
🛞 Medium — the balanced dry-weather tyre, combining speed and durability.
🛞 Hard — the most durable dry-weather tyre, designed for longer stints.
🛞 Intermediate — a tyre for damp conditions and light rain.
🛞 Wet — a tyre for heavy rain and significant standing water.
🗓 RACE WEEKEND — SESSION FORMAT
Free Practice — sessions used to understand the car, tyres and circuit.
Qualifying — the session that determines the starting grid for the Grand Prix.
1️⃣ Q1 — the first qualifying segment, eliminating the six slowest drivers.
2️⃣ Q2 — the second qualifying segment, eliminating another six drivers.
3️⃣ Q3 — the final segment in which the ten fastest drivers compete for pole position.
Sprint — a shorter race held on selected weekends.
1️⃣2️⃣3️⃣ Sprint Qualifying — the session that determines the starting grid for the Sprint.
Pole Position — first place on the starting grid.
Formation Lap — the lap completed before the race start.
Out-Lap — the first lap after leaving the pit lane.
In-Lap — the lap on which a driver returns to the pits.
Parc Fermé — a regulated period during which teams are heavily restricted from changing the car.
🏳 RACE CONTROL — FLAGS AND PROCEDURES
Safety Car — a vehicle deployed to slow and control the field during a dangerous situation.
Virtual Safety Car — a system that forces all drivers to reduce their speed without deploying the physical Safety Car.
🏳️ Red Flag — the session or race is suspended because conditions are unsafe.
🏳️ Yellow Flag — drivers must slow down, and overtaking is prohibited.
Double Yellow Flags — drivers must significantly reduce speed and be prepared to stop.
🏳️ Green Flag — the track is clear, and normal racing conditions have resumed.
🏳️ Blue Flag — a slower driver must allow a faster car to pass, usually when being lapped.
🏳 Black and White Flag — an official warning for unacceptable driving.
🏳 Black Flag — a driver must return to the pits and retire from the session.
Track Limits — the defined boundaries of the circuit that drivers must remain within.
Stewards — independent officials who investigate incidents and issue penalties.
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@charlesleclerc