The FIA has decided to eliminate the ‘straight mode’ zone between corners 8 and 9 at the Albert Park circuit in Melbourne, due to concerns expressed by several drivers about the loss of control of the vehicles in this section of the track.
This change is part of the safety measures being implemented during the Australian Grand Prix weekend. In this edition of Formula 1, active aerodynamic systems have been introduced, allowing cars to lower their front and rear wings in predefined zones to improve the energy efficiency of the new engines.
During the first round of free practice, up to five ‘straight mode’ zones were activated, including the one connecting to a fast section after corner 8. In a nighttime meeting, several drivers expressed that the decrease in aerodynamic load in this area put them at risk, especially when competing in groups. The FIA, after analyzing the data obtained, chose to eliminate this zone before the start of the third free practice session.
The FIA’s single-seaters director, Nikolas Tombazis, explained that at other circuits, ‘straight mode’ zones usually do not present difficulties, but that at some tracks, such as Melbourne, curved sections have been incorporated. This has led to a reduction in aerodynamic load that can be dangerous in competitive conditions.
The decision was communicated to the teams only about two hours before the practice session, which will force each team’s engineers to review strategies in record time. Tombazis acknowledged that the measure may penalize those teams that had meticulously prepared for the competition, but reiterated that the priority was the safety of the drivers.
With this incident, Tombazis mentioned that other circuits on the 2026 calendar are expected to present similar problems, and that the FIA is committed to addressing these issues in advance to ensure safety on the track.
