F1 leaders have confirmed a package of adjustments to the sport’s 2026 regulations aimed at allaying driver concerns about safety and certain elements of the competition.
A number of changes were agreed for the upcoming Miami Grand Prix at Monday’s meeting attended by F1, the FIA, team principals and engine manufacturer chiefs.
Energy harvesting and deployment limits have been changed for qualifying to allow drivers to move closer to flatout and reduce the amount required for lift and coasting.
Similar measures have been introduced in racing, including capping boost and restricting power deployment in corners to improve safety.
Changes to the starting procedure will be trialled in Miami, with the focus on improving safety so that cars struggling to pull away do not become a danger to others on the grid.
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2026 Japanese Grand Prix Highlights
Wet weather regulations have also changed, with the main focus on improving safety.
Widely considered to be the biggest regulation change in the history of the sport, the change saw the introduction of a new power unit in addition to a new chassis, increasing power to a 50/50 ratio with the internal combustion engine.
“Today, at an online meeting between the FIA, team principals, CEOs of power unit manufacturers and FOM, a number of improvements to the 2026 FIA Formula One World Championship regulations were agreed,” an FIA statement said.
“The final proposals presented at today’s meeting were the result of a series of consultations over the past few weeks between the FIA, technical representatives and extensive input from Formula 1 drivers.
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“Discussions regarding potential adjustments were based on data collected from the first three events of the 2026 season.”
Plans had always been in place to assess early action and implement any necessary changes, but both driver feedback and significant schedule shifts due to the cancellation of races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia due to conflicts in the Middle East led to increased attention to the regulations.
The dangers posed by drivers adapting to energy management systems were highlighted by Haas’s Oliver Bearman’s devastating crash during the Japanese Grand Prix due to a huge speed difference with the car behind him.
Meanwhile, four-time world champion Max Verstappen has been highly critical of the racing the new regulations have created, even suggesting he is considering his future in the sport as a result of his dissatisfaction.
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Other drivers have provided more cautious feedback, particularly on qualifying and safety, but there has also been plenty of praise for the wheel-to-wheel action, with seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton suggesting he has never had more fun racing in F1.
Below are details of the changes announced by the FIA on Monday, which will require final approval from the World Motor Sport Council to become official before the Miami Grand Prix.
Qualifying
Adjustments to energy management parameters, such as reducing the maximum allowable charge from 8MJ to 7MJ, aimed at reducing overharvesting and promoting more stable flat-out operation. This change aims to reduce the maximum duration of Superclip to approximately 2-4 seconds per lap. Peak power for the SuperClip has increased from 250kW to 350kW, further reducing charging times and easing the driver’s burden in energy management. This also applies to race conditions. The number of events covered by the Alternative Energy Floor has been increased from 8 to 12 races, allowing it to better adapt to the characteristics of the circuit.
race
The maximum power available via boost in race conditions is limited to +150kW (or the car’s current power level at start-up) to limit sudden performance differences, and is maintained at 350kW in key acceleration zones (from corner exit to braking point, including overtaking zones), but limited to 250kW in other parts of the lap. These measures are designed to reduce excessive approach speeds while preserving overtaking opportunities and overall performance characteristics.
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race start
A new “Low Power Start Detection” system has been developed to identify vehicles that have abnormally low acceleration immediately after releasing the clutch. In such cases, automatic MGU-K deployment is triggered to ensure minimal acceleration levels and reduce start-related risks without introducing any sporting benefits. A related visual warning system will be introduced, activating flashing lights (rear and side) on the affected vehicles to alert following drivers. Resetting the energy counter at the start of a formation lap was also implemented to fix a previous error. A system inconsistency has been identified.
wet condition
The tire blanket temperature of the intermediate tire has been increased following driver feedback to improve initial grip and tire performance in wet conditions. Maximum ERS deployment is reduced, limiting torque and improving vehicle control in low grip conditions. The rear light system has been simplified to provide clearer, more consistent visual cues to improve visibility and reaction time for drivers behind you in adverse conditions.
F1 will resume with the second sprint weekend of the season, the Miami Grand Prix, from May 1-3, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports now – cancel anytime with no contract
