Mercedes track technical director Andrew Shovlin has ruled out a return of porpoising but fears new challenges that teams may not be able to anticipate. Major regulation changes always cause concern within Formula 1, often leading to unexpected issues that can reshuffle the competitive order. Porpoising was one such problem: since 2022, it has affected the performance of several teams. The bouncing phenomenon on straights was caused by a physical principle triggered by the shape of the floor sections used, which from 2026 will be completely different. In the next generation of cars, the floor will be flat: cars will lose much of the ground effect and generate downforce primarily through the wing profiles. This means that porpoising should not be an issue in 2026, but other technical problems could emerge.
Andrew Shovlin himself rules out the return of porpoising while still fearing new critical issues that teams may struggle to manage immediately. “There will always be traps and teams disappointed by the work they have done. You never approach a new set of regulations thinking everything will be simple. What can be said is that the rules are returning to the previous generation of cars, where it’s unlikely we’ll see the same porpoising issues that characterized the early days of these regulations. Even if similar problems arise, with what we’ve learned in the meantime and the tools we have developed to understand aerodynamics, we would be in a better position to manage them,” he explained.
With a regulation change of this magnitude, it is easy to expect a performance disparity at the start of the season, which will gradually level out over time as teams adapt to the new rules.
The new power units will influence the on-track battles. In 2026, the Formula 1 power units will become even more electrified, with a 50% thermal power and 50% electrical power split. This will open new strategic scenarios, as the electric motor requires a different management approach, linked to batteries and energy recovery.
“It is definitely an important factor, because there is a limited energy supply and you need to do everything possible to recover as much as you can,” Andrew Shovlin explained. “However, this situation will be similar for everyone on the grid. When there is an energy shortage, it creates a strategic opportunity for the driver, so it is essential to understand where it can be used.”
Battery management will vary from driver to driver, becoming an integral part of race strategy. Overtakes will therefore happen differently and will often be planned collaboratively between engineers and drivers, adding extra spectacle to the races. “There will be situations where it’s relatively easy to pass at the start of the lap, but you may be overtaken again later if you drive that way. This is how the formula will evolve,” he added. “I don’t think it will necessarily become an area of huge performance differences, but it will be an important factor in terms of race strategy.”
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