Article by Tudor Belivacă – Published Monday, March 23, 2026 7:24 p.m. / Updated Monday, March 23, 2026 7:24 p.m.
Williams driver Carlos Sainz has warned that Formula 1 could witness serious accidents in the near future due to a new system introduced by the new regulations.
This is the Straight Mode (SM) system, which involves using active aerodynamics and opening both the rear and front ailerons for maximum speed in straight lines with minimum downforce. The system was introduced to replace DRS, the opening of the rear flaps on the straight when you are less than a second behind your opponent.
Carlos Sainz worried about new system in Formula 1: “I don't like racing without downforce”
In the first round of the Formula 1 season, one of the areas for the use of SM was between turns 9 and 10, which is not a straight line, but a section where the drivers turn, but with full throttle. Sainz expects that we will soon see major accidents precisely because of driving at high speed and with minimal downforce.
“When you drive with the wings open at 340 kilometers per hour, sooner or later there will be a big accident on some of the high-speed tracks like Australia, where there are easy corners. A place like Jeddah, with the wings open… I don't like it. I don't like racing at 340 km/h and no downforce and with the wings open, especially on such circuits. In China, there are no problems with straight lines. But for the other tracks it's not good,” Carlos Sainz said, according to sportal.gr.
The new regulations in Formula 1 have angered the drivers. In addition to Straight Mode, the pilots also complained about the engines, especially Max Verstappen, the driver of Red Bull, 4 times world champion.
Carlos Sainz has not had any accidents this season and managed to collect just two points in the first two races.
Formula 1 driver standings
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George Russell (Mercedes) – 51 points
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Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – 47
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Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – 34
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Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) – 33
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Oliver Bearman (Haas) – 17
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Lando Norris (McLaren) – 15
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Pierre Gasly (Alpine) – 9
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Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – 8
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Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) – 8
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Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls) – 4
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Isack Hadjar (Red Bull) – 4
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Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – 3
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Carlos Sainz (Williams) – 2
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Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi) – 2
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Franco Colapinto (Alpine) – 1
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Esteban Ocon (Haas) – 0
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Nico Hulkenberg (Audi) – 0
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Alexander Albon (Williams) – 0
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Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac) – 0
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Sergio Perez (Cadillac) – 0
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Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) – 0
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Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) – 0
