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Fernando Alonso has voiced his doubts about Formula 1’s upcoming “manual override” system, which will replace DRS when the new technical regulations arrive in 2026. While many see the change as a step toward fairer racing, the two-time world champion fears it could make overtaking harder and races more predictable.
A farewell to DRS
Since its introduction in 2011, the Drag Reduction System has been both a blessing and a curse for Formula 1. It allowed easier overtakes by opening the rear wing flap, reducing drag and boosting top speed. But critics, including Alonso, have long argued that it created artificial passes rather than genuine racing moments.
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The FIA plans to replace DRS with a “manual override” energy system that gives drivers limited control over battery power deployment for attacking or defending. In theory, the system will reward skill and timing instead of relying on straight-line speed.
Alonso, however, is not convinced. “We’ve seen so many regulations designed to improve overtaking that end up doing the opposite,” he said during the São Paulo Grand Prix media day. “DRS was artificial, yes, but at least it worked. Now we might go back to races where nobody can pass.”
Concerns about complexity
The Aston Martin driver warned that the new system could add unnecessary layers of strategy. “If everyone has the same energy to use, it becomes like playing chess at 300 km/h,” he smiled wryly. “You’ll spend more time pressing buttons than racing. I hope they make it simple enough so we can still fight on track.”
Under the proposed rules, cars will harvest and deploy energy in more dynamic ways, with an override button giving a temporary increase in power output. The FIA says this will make defending and attacking more interactive, but Alonso questions whether it will truly help. “The leader will always have clean air and more control of energy. The guy behind will overheat the tyres, and overtaking will still depend on strategy rather than racing,” he argued.
Tyres, grip and the human element
Alonso emphasised that the biggest factor in overtaking has always been tyre performance, not technology. “People think it’s all about power or drag, but overtaking happens when one car has better tyres than another,” he explained. “If we keep the tyres too hard or the degradation too low, even a manual override won’t change anything.”
He called for the FIA and Pirelli to focus on creating tyres that promote racing instead of endless energy-management systems. “We need differences in pace, not just tools to close a gap on the straight,” he said. “Fans want to see drivers make real moves — braking later, committing to corners, taking risks.”
Echoes of the past
Alonso’s scepticism carries weight: few drivers have lived through as many rule changes as the Spaniard. From refuelling eras to turbo-hybrid engines, he has seen several attempts to improve “the show.” Some worked, many didn’t. “Every time we change something, we say it’s for better racing,” he reflected. “But in the end, the best races come from close competition, not from gimmicks.”
He also drew comparisons to Formula E, where energy-management systems are already central to racing. “I respect what they do, but it’s not what Formula 1 should become,” Alonso said. “We have the fastest cars in the world. People watch us to see speed, not computer games with batteries.”
The FIA’s defence
The FIA insists the manual-override concept is essential for 2026’s new hybrid regulations, which will significantly increase electric power and reduce drag. Senior officials argue that removing DRS will make racing more authentic. “This is about giving drivers control again,” one insider told Motorsport Week. “The manual override will still allow strategic use of energy but without the artificial ‘press-to-pass’ zones.”
Engineers, though, warn that removing DRS may create follow-the-leader races if the dirty-air effect isn’t further reduced. Some teams are even pushing for hybrid solutions that keep a limited DRS function for specific circuits.
A driver’s voice of caution
For Alonso, the issue is not resistance to change but the importance of learning from past mistakes. “We can’t just assume technology will fix racing,” he said. “I want to believe in 2026, but I’ve been here long enough to know that regulations alone don’t make good races — the cars and the drivers do.”
Despite his scepticism, Alonso remains hopeful that the FIA will balance innovation with simplicity. “If they get it right, it could be fun,” he conceded. “But if it becomes another system to manage while driving flat-out, it might hurt the spectacle.”
As Formula 1 prepares for its next revolution, the paddock is split between excitement and doubt. For the purists — Alonso chief among them — the hope is simple: that in chasing the future, F1 doesn’t lose the essence of racing itself.
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