Active aero changes F1 25 force feedback because the wings now switch between a high downforce Corner Mode and a low drag Straight Mode. Less downforce means less load on the front tyres, so the wheel goes lighter on the straights and builds weight again once the wings close for the braking zone. On top of that, the 2026 cars carry around 15 percent less downforce than the 2025 cars, so fast corners feel lighter than you are used to.
In this guide you learn what changed in the 2026 Season Pack, what that does to the signal in your hands, and how to set up your wheel and rig so you actually feel it.
What changed in the F1 25 2026 Season Pack?
The 2026 Season Pack arrived on 3 June 2026 and brings the new regulations into F1 25.
Smaller, lighter cars
The minimum weight dropped from 800 kg to 768 kg. The maximum wheelbase went from 3.6 metres to 3.4 metres, and the car is now 1.9 metres wide instead of 2.0 metres. A shorter, lighter car changes direction faster. That sounds great, but it also means the rear steps out sooner when you brake and turn at the same time.
Active aero replaces DRS
DRS is gone. Instead, the front and rear wings move between two positions. Corner Mode is the default setting with full downforce. Straight Mode flattens the wings on marked parts of the track to cut drag. In F1 25 you either trigger Straight Mode yourself in those zones or let the Active Aero Assist do it for you. Overtake Mode and a separate Boost function sit next to this system, which we explain in our guide on how boost mode works in the F1 26 DLC.
How does active aero feel through the wheel?
Force feedback mostly tells you how much grip the front tyres have, so every aero change shows up in the steering.
On the straights
When Straight Mode opens, the wings stop pushing the car into the track. Front tyre load drops, and the self aligning force in the steering drops with it. In plain words: the wheel feels lighter and a bit more nervous. Small bumps feel sharper because there is less constant weight around them.
In the braking zone
The moment the wings return to Corner Mode, downforce comes back and the wheel loads up again. You feel this as a clear rise in weight just before turn in. That moment is useful. It tells you the car is ready to take the corner. If you turn in before that weight arrives, the front tends to slide wide.
Want to see how a stiff platform handles these load changes? Here is the flagship of the range.
SIMGASM | Pro Aluminum Sim Racing Cockpit - Black
In fast corners
With around 15 percent less downforce than the 2025 cars, the wheel no longer builds the huge weight you know from places like Maggotts and Becketts or Pouhon. Most drivers find the 2026 cars lighter in high speed corners. Lap times also sit around one to two seconds slower at most tracks, simply because grip is lower.
Why does the rear feel so lively in 2026?
The stronger hybrid system plays a big role in how the rear of the car talks to you.
The hybrid motor, known as the MGU K, now delivers up to 350 kW, close to half of the total power. That torque hits the rear tyres hard on corner exit. When the rear starts to slide, the front tyres take a different angle and the steering suddenly goes light. That light moment is your warning. A clean force feedback signal lets you catch it with a small, quick correction instead of a big lock.
A direct drive base with enough headroom makes these light moments much easier to read, because it never runs out of force when the load spikes again.
Simagic Alpha EVO Sport 9nm - Direct Drive Wheel Base
How do you set up your wheel for active aero?
The goal is simple: keep the main signal clean, so the aero changes stay easy to feel.
Keep the extra effects at zero
Our F1 26 wheel settings guide explains why all extra effects below the main strength slider stay at zero. On Track Effects and Rumble Strip Effects add artificial noise on top of the real signal. On a 2026 car that noise hides the light moment when the wings open and the weight return when they close.
Avoid clipping in the braking zone
Clipping means the game asks for more force than your base delivers. The signal then flattens at the top, and every detail above that point is lost. Braking zones are where the wings close and the load rises, so this is where clipping hits first. Lower the in game Force Feedback Strength until you still feel weight change at the end of a long straight.
Keep damping low
Damping adds a constant resistance to every movement. High damping makes the wheel feel heavy and smooth, but it blurs the short drop in weight when the rear slides. Keep it as low as you find comfortable.
If you drive a mid torque base, a 12 Nm unit like this one gives a good balance between detail and effort for F1.
Conspit ARES 12 CDR Direct Drive Wheelbase – 12Nm (Black)
Does your rig change how much aero feel you get?
Yes, because a flexing rig swallows part of the signal before it reaches your hands.
When the wings close and the load rises, a wheel deck that bends a few millimetres absorbs that rise. You end up tuning settings for a signal you never fully receive. This is one of the reasons Johan Akkerman, a former esports world champion and the CEO of SIMGASM, tests every SIMGASM product as part of a complete simulator and not as a loose part. His own setup combines the SIMGASM Sport with a Formula Atlas seat, VR and motion.
The four aluminium sim racing cockpits use deeper profiles as you move up the range: 40 × 40 mm on the Hobby, 40 × 80 mm on the Club, 40 × 120 mm on the Sport and 40 × 160 mm on the Pro. A deeper profile resists twist better, so more of the aero load change reaches your hands. If you want to match the base to the frame, our guide to direct drive torque in Nm helps you choose.
Questions about active aero and FFB in F1 25
These are the questions drivers ask most about the 2026 cars and their wheel feel.
Should you use the Active Aero Assist?
Start with the assist while you learn the new cars and tracks. Once your braking points feel natural, switch to manual control. You then decide the moment the wings close, which makes the weight return in the braking zone easier to predict.
Why does my wheel feel lighter in fast corners than in F1 25 base cars?
The 2026 cars have around 15 percent less downforce, so the front tyres carry less load in fast corners. Less load means less steering force. This is normal and not a settings problem.
Do I need new FFB settings for the 2026 cars?
Your base settings mostly carry over. Check for clipping in braking zones, keep extra effects at zero and keep damping low. Then fine tune the strength slider until the light and heavy moments are both clear.
Does steering rotation change with active aero?
No. A rotation of 400 degrees stays a good starting point for the 2026 cars. Make sure the angle in your wheel software matches the angle in the game.
Want to learn more? The SIMGASM experts are happy to help.
