The 2026 Formula 1 season kicked off in Australia, revealing a particularly interesting technical phenomenon: super clipping. Already glimpsed during pre-season testing in Bahrain, super clipping significantly reduces straight-line speed, leaving F1 cars running only on the internal combustion engine after the battery has been fully depleted, with power dropping to just over 500 horsepower.
The effect is striking. The speed delta between the highest point on the straight and the moment the battery is fully exhausted can reach around 50 km/h—or even more. This phenomenon occurs on all cars, but for reference we looked at Kimi Antonelli’s fastest lap during FP2, set on the red soft compound in 1:19.943.
In the first example, Kimi Antonelli reaches a top speed of 325 km/h, which then drops abruptly to 270 km/h just before braking for Turn 9—a speed delta of 55 km/h. This clearly shows the battery depletion: the electric motor stops providing boost, leaving only the thermal component of the engine. Notably, the driver keeps the throttle fully open at 100%. This scenario is exactly what defines super clipping.
Why F1 cars slow so much on the straights
The concept of clipping itself is not new to Formula 1. Until last year, clipping referred to moments when the MGU-K energy was depleted—or deliberately cut to conserve energy for other parts of the circuit—so the electric motor no longer contributed power, estimated around 160 hp. However, the effect was minor, with speed stabilizing or decreasing by just a few km/h.
Super clipping is new because of the configuration of the power units in this generation of F1 cars. These engines now have a roughly 50/50 split between thermal and electric power. When the electric portion is depleted, the engine operates with only about half its maximum output, resulting in a drop of roughly 500 hp.
This is actually a deliberate strategy. The MGU-K stops providing boost to focus on recovering energy generated by the internal combustion engine to recharge the batteries. The electric motor stops driving the car and instead acts as a generator, allowing energy storage for the next lap.
Super clipping occurs less during race conditions
While most pronounced in qualifying laps—when drivers push the power unit to its limits—super clipping also occurs during the race, but to a lesser extent. Using Antonelli again as an example, we analysed his race simulation lap, focusing on the central sector, specifically the straight between Turns 8 and 9.
In this case, Antonelli reached a top speed of 310 km/h before dropping to 294 km/h prior to braking. Here, the speed delta is much smaller, stabilizing at around 16 km/h. This shows that while super clipping is still present in race conditions, energy management strategies reduce its impact compared to flat-out qualifying runs.
Understanding super clipping is essential for grasping the new performance dynamics of 2026 F1 cars. Teams and drivers must carefully balance battery usage, energy recovery, and thermal engine output to maintain optimal straight-line speed while exploiting the full potential of the hybrid power unit.
Super clipping is the defining technical hurdle of the 2026 era, forcing drivers and engineers to rethink how they attack the long straights of Albert Park. As the telemetry from Kimi Antonelli’s sessions shows, the massive 55 km/h speed drops in qualifying offer a glimpse into the sheer power of the new electrical systems—and the sudden vulnerability of the cars once that energy is spent.
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