Formula 1’s governing body, the FIA, announced in a statement that it met with F1 teams and power unit manufacturers to discuss potential changes to the 2026 regulations. It revealed that discussions took place over “difficult topics,” and the meeting would be followed by a series of other meetings to implement proposed changes.
MotorBiscuit reported after the Japanese Grand Prix that the FIA was reconsidering 2026 engine regulations after Ollie Bearman crashed into the barriers with a force of 50G.
Several drivers have also raised concerns about how power is deployed when batteries are charged, compared to situations where drivers lift off or use super clipping to harvest energy, and the potential risks caused by speed differences when closely following another car.
The FIA stated in its announcement that the meeting was scheduled early in the year by all parties, who decided to discuss potential changes to the regulations after the first three Grands Prix.
Read More from MotorBiscuit:
- Max Verstappen’s Race Engineer Gianpiero Lambiase Quits Red Bull F1 For Huge Money
- NASCAR Hall of Famer Accuses Ford of Moving Money From Stock Car Racing to F1
- Lewis Hamilton Drifts Through Tokyo in a Ferrari F40 With Kim Kardashian by His Side – Video
The statement read:
“Today’s meeting, between the FIA and technical experts from the Teams and Power Unit Manufacturers, covered a raft of topics as part of the natural evolution of the 2026 F1 technical and sporting regulations.
“It was generally agreed that although the events to date have provided exciting racing, there was a commitment to making tweaks to some aspects of the regulations in the area of energy management. There was constructive dialogue on difficult topics especially when considering the competitive nature of the stakeholders.
“It was agreed earlier in the year by all parties that this sequence of meetings would take place following the first three races of the 2026 Formula 1 season. The scheduling was timed so that sufficient technical data could be gathered in advance of any discussions.
“As part of the round of collaborative discussions, further meetings are planned over the coming fortnight. There is a Sporting Regulations meeting on April 15 during which any changes in Section B that are required to facilitate the technical changes will be discussed.
“The next technical session will be on April 16 during which points discussed today will be followed up and new topics will be given exposure.
“A high-level meeting with representation from all stakeholders is scheduled for April 20 where it is anticipated that preferred options jointly proposed by the technical teams will be considered and a consensus sought on the way forward.
“The 2026 regulations were developed and agreed in close partnership with teams, OEMs, Power Unit Manufacturers, the commercial rights holder and the FIA all at the table. It is in this spirit of collaboration that potential changes are being discussed.
“Any changes to the regulations will be subject to the FIA WMSC approval process.”
What Does This Mean For F1?
A major change to the F1 power units could be ruled out, given that the proposals arrive mid-season and teams don’t have the time and resources for the development and testing of modified engines.
However, tweaks with regard to the way energy is harvested and deployed could be one aspect that the teams and the FIA may agree to work toward. But it remains to be seen when and how the changes, if any, will be implemented amid a busy 22-race calendar.
