Downforce vs Drag:
The Eternal Compromise
The fundamental battle of F1 engineering. You can have cornering speed or straight-line speed, but rarely both.
Why Can’t F1 Cars Have Both?
More downforce = faster corners, more drag = slower straights. You cannot add a big wing to push the car down without that same wing catching the air and slowing the car down.
⬇️ Downforce
The aerodynamic force that pushes the car down into the track.
More Downforce = More Grip = Faster Cornering.
✋ Drag
Air resistance that pushes back against the car.
More Drag = Slower Top Speed.
Monaco Setup
Monaco has many tight corners and short straights.
- Wings: Huge, steep angles.
- Goal: Maximum grip.
- Top Speed: Low (doesn't matter).
Monza Setup
Monza is the "Temple of Speed" with long straights.
- Wings: Tiny, almost flat.
- Goal: Maximum top speed (350+ km/h).
- Cornering: Slippery/Difficult.
The 2026 Solution
For decades, teams had to choose a fixed setup for the whole weekend.
The 2026 Active Aero rules change this game. Now, cars can have "Monaco Downforce" in the corners (Z-Mode) and "Monza Drag" on the straights (X-Mode) by moving the wings while driving.