F1: too much power in the wet, boost for overtaking disabled in rain conditions from Miami onwards
Formula 1 arrives in Miami with a revised set of regulations designed to address the issues that emerged during the opening rounds of the season. As the FIA has repeatedly stressed, this is not a revolution but rather an evolution, aimed at targeting key priority areas: qualifying performance, the closing speed between cars during wheel-to-wheel battles, race starts, and, as a fourth focus, driving in wet conditions.
Although there have been no truly wet sessions so far, with the exception of a single day of running during the early Barcelona testing phase – and even then only Ferrari and Red Bull were on track – drivers have been unanimous in warning that taming this new generation of Formula 1 cars in the rain could prove extremely challenging given the fundamental characteristics of the machinery.
First and foremost, the new power units, with their near-instant torque delivery provided by a 350 kW electric motor, make rear-end stability significantly harder to control on corner exit. The sudden surge of power compared to previous generations means these cars have a more oversteering behaviour, particularly when traction is limited.
On top of that, two additional factors amplify the difficulty: the tyres, now narrower in order to reduce weight and aerodynamic drag, provide less mechanical grip, while overall aerodynamic downforce has also been reduced. The combination of these elements results in a rear end that is far more nervous and unpredictable, especially in wet conditions like those that could be seen during the Miami Grand Prix weekend.
For this reason, following the latest regulatory update, the FIA has taken on board driver feedback and, together with the teams, has introduced specific wet-weather power maps. These are designed to smooth both the acceleration curve and overall power delivery. Drivers had expressed concerns that maintaining the full 350 kW electric deployment in wet conditions could create serious safety risks, a matter the governing body is always prepared to address with targeted regulations.
“From a safety point of view, one area of intervention concerns the performance of the cars in wet conditions. We have not yet had a proper wet situation, but some drivers have already expressed concerns in advance about wet races that we will probably have sooner or later, saying that having so much power could be a bit problematic, as well as having full boost in the rain,” explained Nikolas Tombazis, FIA Single Seater Director, highlighting the drivers’ input in the regulatory adjustments.
However, the power issue was not the only topic on the FIA’s table regarding wet-weather racing. As also seen in Japan, even in dry conditions the use of the boost system was capable of creating sensitive safety situations, with the potential for large speed differentials between cars and an increased risk of contact.
For this reason, in dry conditions, the FIA and the teams have already agreed to reduce the effectiveness of the boost. When the electric motor is operating below 150 kW, the extra power can only be increased up to that threshold, while if the deployment is higher, it will no longer be boosted up to the previous 350 kW peak.
The situation will be different in wet conditions, where drivers had already raised multiple concerns and requested targeted intervention. In the rain, cars will still generate significant spray, reducing visibility, while partially active aerodynamic systems will remain in use. The front wing will still be adjustable to reduce both drag and downforce, helping to limit the risk of grounding and plank wear, while the rear wing will remain closed.
While the overtaking mode will remain available in low-grip conditions within the limits of the new wet-weather power curves, from Miami onwards the use of boost in the rain will no longer be permitted for safety reasons.
In the latest regulatory draft published ahead of the United States round, within the section covering energy deployment limits, article B7.2.1 g) has been added, stating: “in low grip conditions the use of Boost mode, as defined in FIA-F1-DOC-058, shall be inhibited and is not permitted.”
The decision to ban the use of boost in wet conditions, similar to how DRS was previously prohibited in the rain, follows the same safety-oriented philosophy. The aim is to reduce speed differentials between cars, which under wet conditions could otherwise lead to potentially dangerous situations on track.
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