Manual Override Mode: How It Works

Formula 1's 2026 technical regulations introduce one of the most revolutionary driver-controlled systems in the sport's history: Manual Override Mode (MOM). This groundbreaking feature fundamentally changes how drivers race wheel-to-wheel, replacing the familiar Drag Reduction System (DRS) with a more dynamic and strategic power deployment system that works both in attack and defense.

Manual Override Mode represents a paradigm shift in F1 technology, combining active aerodynamics with enhanced electrical power deployment to create a system that's far more sophisticated than its predecessor. While DRS simply opened a rear wing flap to reduce drag, MOM gives drivers direct control over both aerodynamic configuration and hybrid power output, creating new strategic dimensions never seen before in Formula 1.

At its core, Manual Override Mode allows drivers to manually activate a burst of additional electrical power from the new 50/50 hybrid power units. When a driver presses the MOM button on their steering wheel, the car's energy recovery system (ERS) delivers maximum electrical deployment while simultaneously adjusting the active aerodynamic elements to their lowest drag configuration. This dual-action approach provides a significant speed advantage on straights.

The power boost from Manual Override Mode is substantial. With the 2026 regulations mandating that 50% of total power output must come from electrical energy, the MOM system can deploy up to 350 kilowatts (approximately 470 horsepower) of electrical power. This is nearly triple the electrical power available in current-generation F1 cars, making MOM activations dramatically more effective than DRS ever was.

Unlike DRS, which could only be used in designated zones when within one second of the car ahead, Manual Override Mode operates under different rules. Drivers have a fixed allocation of MOM energy per lap, similar to how battery management currently works but with manual activation. This means drivers must make strategic decisions about when to use their MOM allocation: saving it for key overtaking opportunities, using it defensively to build gaps, or deploying it to set qualifying laps.

The active aerodynamics integration is crucial to MOM's effectiveness. When drivers activate Manual Override Mode, the front and rear wings automatically adjust to their minimum downforce, maximum efficiency positions. The front wing elements rotate to reduce angle of attack, while the rear wing flap opens (similar to DRS) and the beam wing adjusts position. These combined aerodynamic changes can reduce drag by up to 30%, working synergistically with the electrical power boost.

Energy management becomes a critical skill with Manual Override Mode. Drivers and engineers must carefully monitor the battery state of charge throughout each lap, deciding when to harvest energy through regenerative braking and when to deploy it via MOM. Poor energy management could leave a driver defenseless against an attacking rival, while optimal management could provide multiple MOM activations per lap.

The strategic implications of Manual Override Mode are profound. In qualifying, drivers must balance MOM deployment with battery harvesting to ensure they have maximum energy available for their flying lap. In races, teams will develop complex energy deployment strategies, potentially using MOM to create undercuts during pit stop windows or to defend position in the closing laps.

Manual Override Mode also works in conjunction with the new active ride height systems. When MOM is activated, the car's suspension automatically adjusts to optimize the aerodynamic platform, lowering ride height on straights to maximize ground effect efficiency while maintaining stability. This multi-system integration showcases the sophisticated engineering challenge teams face with the 2026 regulations.

Race control retains oversight of the Manual Override Mode system through the FIA's standard electronic control unit (ECU). The governing body can restrict or disable MOM usage during safety car periods, wet conditions, or other safety-critical situations. This ensures the system enhances racing without compromising safety.

Driver feedback on Manual Override Mode during simulator testing has been overwhelmingly positive. Multiple current F1 drivers have praised the system for giving them more control over race strategy and creating additional opportunities for overtaking without the artificial feeling sometimes associated with DRS. The skill required to optimize MOM usage adds another dimension to driver performance.

The elimination of DRS zones represents a significant change to race management. Instead of designated activation zones at specific points on each circuit, Manual Override Mode can be activated anywhere on track (subject to energy availability), giving drivers more freedom in how they approach overtaking maneuvers. This should lead to more creative passing attempts and less predictable racing.

Manual Override Mode's energy allocation varies by circuit characteristics. On power-sensitive tracks like Monza or Spa-Francorchamps, the MOM energy budget might allow for three or four full-power activations per lap. On downforce-dependent circuits like Monaco or Hungary, drivers might have energy for five or six shorter bursts, optimized for acceleration out of slow corners.

The system includes sophisticated torque vectoring capabilities, allowing the electrical motor to adjust power delivery between the rear wheels during MOM activation. This helps maintain traction and stability when deploying maximum electrical power, especially important when exiting corners or during changing track conditions.

Teams are developing entirely new simulation tools to optimize Manual Override Mode strategies. Advanced machine learning algorithms analyze thousands of lap scenarios to determine optimal MOM deployment points for each circuit, considering variables like battery state, fuel load, tire degradation, and competitor positioning.

Manual Override Mode also impacts tire management strategy. The ability to deploy maximum electrical power on demand means drivers can potentially save their internal combustion engine in certain situations, managing thermal load differently than with current regulations. This creates new strategic possibilities for tire preservation during long stints.

The 2026 regulations include specific MOM usage restrictions for different session types. During practice sessions, teams have unlimited MOM activations to gather data and test different deployment strategies. In qualifying, energy allocations are increased to allow for maximum performance. In races, the standard per-lap energy budget applies with no mid-race resets.

Manual Override Mode represents Formula 1's commitment to road-relevant technology development. The skills drivers learn managing electrical energy deployment in competition directly translate to efficient use of hybrid and electric road cars, supporting the sport's sustainability goals while maintaining its position at the pinnacle of motorsport technology.

The system's introduction marks the end of an era for DRS, which served Formula 1 well since its introduction in 2011 but had become increasingly controversial among purist fans who viewed it as artificial. Manual Override Mode addresses these concerns by placing energy deployment fully in the drivers' hands, making overtaking a result of superior strategy and execution rather than simply being close enough to trigger a system.

As teams prepare for the 2026 season, Manual Override Mode development is consuming significant resources. Powertrain manufacturers are optimizing electrical motor efficiency to maximize MOM deployment duration, while chassis designers focus on active aero systems that can transition seamlessly between configurations without unsettling the car's balance.

Manual Override Mode exemplifies the new era of Formula 1: more electrical power, more driver control, more strategic depth, and more relevant technology. When the 2026 season begins, this revolutionary system will fundamentally change how F1 races are won and lost, creating a new chapter in the sport's storied history.