Strategy · Updated for 2026
F1 slipstream and tow explained
How a leading car can reduce the air resistance felt by a following car on a straight.
Quick answer
A following car in the wake may experience less drag and gain straight-line speed. Teams call this a tow, but the same wake can harm cornering downforce.
01
The straight-line gain
The leading car has already displaced and accelerated the surrounding air, so the follower can require less power to reach a given speed.
02
The cornering trade
As the pair reaches braking and turn-in, the follower needs clean airflow again. Sitting too close can cost front grip exactly when it matters.
03
Planned qualifying tows
Teammates may coordinate spacing on long straights, but traffic, minimum-time rules and the need to prepare tyres make the tactic risky.