Oversteer

Oversteer is a handling condition where the rear of a Formula 1 car loses grip and slides outward in a corner. When a car oversteers, the driver must apply opposite lock (turning the steering wheel in the opposite direction to the corner) to catch the slide and maintain control. Oversteer can be caused by excessive throttle application (power oversteer), too much rear wing angle reduction, or a car setup that is too stiff at the rear. Some drivers prefer a slightly oversteering car — it can be faster through corners if the driver can control it. Ayrton Senna and Max Verstappen are famous for their ability to control oversteer. The opposite of oversteer is understeer.

Oversteer has been part of F1 since the beginning. The balance between oversteer and understeer is a fundamental aspect of car setup. Different drivers have different preferences — some prefer oversteer (Senna, Verstappen), others prefer understeer (Prost).