Manual override in 2026: will overtaking still work?

When Fernando Alonso warned that Formula 1’s new manual override system could make overtaking harder in 2026, it sounded like just another paddock soundbite. But behind his remark lies a serious technical question. With DRS disappearing, the entire balance of how cars pass each other will change. Will racing become fairer, or could both drivers end up neutralising each other’s speed?

What replaces DRS

From 2026 the familiar Drag Reduction System will be retired. In its place comes manual override, a short burst of electrical energy released from the hybrid system. The car behind can use extra deployment when it is within a defined gap to the car in front, compensating for the loss of downforce in dirty air.

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In theory this should produce fairer battles, giving the following driver just enough boost to close the gap while preventing the leader from defending endlessly. In practice, though, the balance could prove fragile.

Why Alonso is concerned

Alonso fears both cars could end up slower rather than faster. “If the driver in front deploys to defend and the one behind deploys to attack, they both waste energy and lose time,” he explained. “It looks exciting, but you will not see real overtakes.”

On long straights such as Interlagos’ run from Turn 3 to 4 or from 12 to 1, both drivers could reach identical top speeds. If each spends the same energy, neither gains an advantage. Engineers call this the “ping-pong” effect: constant attacks, no reward.

The energy balance

Each car carries a limited electrical budget of roughly four megajoules per lap. If the chasing driver spends an extra megajoule to attack, the leader can respond with the same amount to defend. Both drain their batteries and end up slower overall.

FIA simulations show that without deployment limits, overtaking becomes almost impossible. That is why the federation is testing rules that restrict defensive energy use or introduce a small “delta window” that forces the lead car to maintain a minimum charge before deploying.

Possible fixes

Several ideas are on the table. One would restrict how often the manual override can be used per lap, similar to the old DRS zones. Another would shorten the boost duration if two cars remain within the activation gap for multiple laps. A third option is an anti-ping-pong algorithm that automatically reduces power output when both drivers deploy simultaneously.

These concepts will be tested through early 2025, and even small changes could have major implications for cooling and battery design.

What it means for fans

The end of DRS marks a fundamental shift in Formula 1. Overtaking will no longer depend on pressing a wing-opening button but on how efficiently drivers manage hybrid energy and tyres. If Pirelli’s 2026 compounds degrade more quickly, tyre life could again become the main variable, returning the sport to battles decided by grip and skill rather than software.

That, Alonso says, would be a success. “If passing depends on tyres and courage instead of electronics, that is real racing.”

The manual override remains in development, but its impact could define the entire 2026 era. The FIA now faces a delicate challenge: keeping overtaking authentic while avoiding a new kind of stalemate.