Boost Button explained: An F101 beginner’s guide to F1’s 2026 power deployment system
18 June 2026Formula 1’s 2026 regulations introduced a new era of hybrid power, with electrical energy playing a bigger role than ever before.
And with more electrical power available to drivers comes a new tactical element to racing, and that is the Boost Button.
But what exactly does the Boost Button do, when can drivers use it, and how is it changing racing in Formula 1? Our F101 beginner’s guide has everything you need to know.
What is the Boost Button in F1?
The Boost Button is a manual power deployment system used by drivers to access additional electrical performance during a lap.
By pressing the button, drivers can temporarily change the power delivery of the car’s hybrid system to release more energy.
That extra power can help drivers attack the car ahead, defend from other drivers behind, or maximise lap time in specific parts of the circuit.
How does the Boost Button work?
Teams can configure how the Boost Button system behaves to suit the demands of each circuit, allowing drivers either to access maximum available electrical power immediately or use a custom map designed for a specific deployment strategy.
Some drivers may choose to release all their stored energy in one burst on a long straight to maximise overtaking potential, while others may spread the deployment across different sections of the lap to improve overall pace or protect themselves from attacking drivers behind.
When can drivers use the Boost Button?
Drivers can use the Boost Button at almost any point during a lap, provided they have enough stored electrical energy available. Unlike Overtake Mode, there is no requirement to be within a second of the car ahead to activate it.
Where does the extra energy come from?
The 2026 cars recover energy through braking, partial throttle, and other regeneration systems built into the hybrid power unit. That harvested energy is then stored in the battery for drivers to deploy later.
Is the Boost Button replacing DRS?
Not directly. The Drag Reduction System (DRS) was replaced by the new active aerodynamics system and Overtake Mode introduced in 2026. However, the Boost Button is part of the wider package designed to create closer racing.
Rather than relying purely on DRS for extra speed, drivers will now have more control over when they use electrical energy during a race, and the differences between deployment from driver to driver has created new overtaking opportunities.
Could the Boost Button change overtaking?
Because drivers can choose where to deploy their electrical energy, overtaking is less predictable than in previous seasons.
Instead of attacks only happening at traditional DRS zones, drivers are using their energy tactically in different sections of the circuit, generating more surprising overtaking spots than we’ve seen in recent seasons.
