Monza Could Deliver Record Overtaking in F1 2026 as 22-Car Q1 Faces Slipstream Chaos
Updated
Updated · The Race · Sep 3
Monza Could Deliver Record Overtaking in F1 2026 as 22-Car Q1 Faces Slipstream Chaos
3 articles · Updated · The Race · Sep 3
Summary
Monza is expected to produce unusually heavy passing under F1’s 2026 rules, with Aston Martin’s Mike Krack predicting a possible all-time overtaking record and MotoGP-style "yo-yo" racing.
Long straights and weaker battery reserves make slipstreaming far more valuable: a tow cuts drag, preserves deployment energy and could swing qualifying laps by 1.5 to 2 seconds, drivers said.
Q1 is seen as the biggest flashpoint because all 22 cars may hunt for a tow, reviving memories of Monza 2019 despite the FIA’s minimum laptime delta rules meant to prevent bunching.
Teams also face a new tactical puzzle on when to unleash energy out of Parabolica without draining the battery before the first chicane, raising the risk of messy sessions and large speed differentials.
Not everyone expects nonstop action: rookie Arvid Lindblad warned overtakes may come in bursts before cars spend several laps recovering energy, turning the race into "really bad yo-yo racing."