Formula 1 team principals have weighed in with their opinions on the new regulations laid out by the FIA in a meeting with the F1 teams, engine manufacturers and Formula One Management.
After consulting drivers, the changes will overhaul how the new cars use their electrical power in an attempt to make qualifying feel more “flat out” and overtaking less likely to result in high-speed crashes, all in time for next week's Miami Grand Prix.
Governing body the FIA said the changes were agreed by all at the meeting but they will be subject to approval from the FIA's World Motor Sport Council, which is typically a formality when changes have broad support.
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Williams team principal James Vowles called them "sensible changes" in the bid to "keep improving" the sport.
https://x.com/JV_F1/status/2046265655582720282
F1 will have a greater emphasis on electrical hybrid power after there was vocal backlash from drivers that qualifying is too focused on strategic recharging of the battery and not enough of a test of driving skill.
Four-time world champion Max Verstappen was one of the many drivers spurring on change, saying that although the discussions are happening, he still believes something is "fundamentally wrong."
"The fact that we are talking with F1 leadership and the FIA is already progress. The problem is just that while you can adjust these regulations a little, fundamentally something is wrong," Verstappen said at a Viaplay event.
"Not everyone will admit that publicly, but it is true."
One package of changes allows faster recharging at high speed and reduces the maximum amount that can be recharged per lap.
A key aim is “reducing excessive harvesting (of energy) and encouraging more consistent flat-out driving," the FIA said.
That largely matches recommendations last week by Mercedes' George Russell, who's started 2026 as a title contender.
Currently, Mercedes are the number one winners out of the 2026 regulations, the Silver Arrows far in front of their rivals with three wins to their names in as many races.
Team principal Toto Wolff has welcomed the discussions, but called for caution from an entire overhaul, saying they cannot make "erratic decisions" in a short amount of time.
"I must really say that the discussions that have been taking place between the group of drivers, the FIA, Formula 1, and the teams have been constructive," Wolff said.
"We all share the same objectives. How can we improve the product, make it out-and-out racing and look at what can improve in terms of safety, but act with a scalpel and not with a baseball bat.
"So I think we're coming to good solutions that we're going to ratify hopefully today in order to evolve. Because it's only three races in and in a way we need to learn from the past where sometimes decisions were made in an erratic way and then we overshot and realised it wasn't good.
"Because we are custodians of this sport and in that respect I am carefully optimistic that we'll align the aforementioned objectives whilst keeping the racing really good."
After a dramatic crash at the Japanese Grand Prix where Oliver Bearman went off track to avoid Franco Colapinto's much slower car, the FIA said there's now a cap on the extra power from the overtake “boost” mode, and other limits to electrical power in certain areas.
“These measures are designed to reduce excessive closing speeds while maintaining overtaking opportunities and overall performance characteristics,” the FIA said.
Those measures, and safety changes for wet-weather driving, will be ready for the Miami GP on May 3.
Other changes to reduce the risk of a crash on the starting grid will be trialled in Miami, including a boost for slow-starting cars and a visual warning.
– with Sophie Wisely
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