Ferrari SF-26: How “super-clipping” could end Charles Leclerc’s lift-and-coast nightmare. How Ferrari and Charles Leclerc could reduce lift and coast .

F1 2026 pre-season testing has been dominated by one major technical theme: super-clipping. The new frontier in battery recharging could significantly reduce the need for the much-criticized lift and coast technique, long disliked by Charles Leclerc and Ferrari.

Energy management has emerged as the central issue during testing of the new 2026 power units. With the next-generation engines featuring an almost 50:50 balance between the internal combustion engine and the electrical component, the way energy is harvested and deployed can make a decisive difference — not only in terms of outright performance, but also in safety and the overall quality of the on-track spectacle. Crucially, this development could help limit the use of the lift and coast approach that Charles Leclerc has often found frustrating.

Among the various technical solutions explored by teams, one concept in particular has established itself as a benchmark: the so-called super-clipping. As explained by technical analyst Paolo Filisetti for RacingNews24, super-clipping consists of recovering electrical energy while the driver is still at full throttle. In practical terms, the system begins recharging the battery even with the accelerator fully open, without forcing the driver to make an obvious and early lift off the throttle.

In this configuration, it is possible to recover up to 250 kW of energy, while the new-generation batteries — significantly upgraded compared to previous seasons — can store up to 350 kW generated by the MGU-K under braking. Although this is not yet considered a perfect or definitive solution, it is currently regarded as the most effective option among those tested so far.

The solution to limit lift and coast for Leclerc and beyond

Compared to the traditional lift and coast method so “hated” by Charles Leclerc, super-clipping offers a fundamental advantage: it does not require an abrupt reduction in speed. This has important safety implications, as it avoids excessive speed differentials between cars on the straights, a factor that can increase risk during wheel-to-wheel battles.

From the driver’s perspective, the driving style also feels far more natural. There is no need to clearly anticipate throttle release in order to maximize energy recovery. Super-clipping is mainly used at the end of long straights or through high-speed corners, such as Turn 12 in Bahrain. In these scenarios, the car can remain in straight mode, with both the front and rear active aerodynamics open, thereby reducing drag and maintaining higher efficiency.

With lift and coast, it is theoretically possible to recover up to 350 kW. However, the trade-off is considerable. The car switches back into corner mode, with the active wings closed. This increases aerodynamic drag and results in a significant loss of straight-line speed.

Super-clipping, while recovering slightly less energy than the maximum available under lift and coast conditions, allows the car to remain more aerodynamically efficient on the straights and avoids visible penalties in terms of top speed. In modern Formula 1, where every kilometer per hour matters, this distinction can have a meaningful impact over a full race distance.

For this reason, discussions are currently underway about raising the super-clipping limit to 350 kW. McLaren has reportedly already tested this configuration and achieved positive feedback, although the data still needs to be evaluated by the FIA. Not all teams are in favor of an immediate regulatory change.

Any potential rule adjustment could alter the competitive balance, rewarding teams that have already developed an effective energy recovery strategy while putting others — still in the adaptation phase — at a disadvantage. On the other hand, the FIA may push for a modification by emphasizing the safety aspect. Fewer sudden slowdowns would mean reduced risks on track and a smoother, more consistent flow of racing action.

Testing has clearly demonstrated that energy management will be one of the decisive factors of the 2026 Formula 1 season. At present, super-clipping represents the most convincing compromise between efficiency, safety and sporting spectacle. The key question now is whether it will become the definitive standard or whether further regulatory refinements will be introduced before the championship officially begins.