Formula 1 drivers united in pushing for regulation changes to the 2026 rules, introduced ahead of the Miami Grand Prix. The tweaks address safety concerns from high closing speeds, qualifying energy management, race starts, and wet weather performance. Feedback from drivers has been largely positive, viewing them as a step forward.
All 22 Formula 1 drivers aligned during discussions with the FIA and Formula One Management over the five-week break between the Japanese and Miami Grands Prix. Williams driver Alex Albon revealed the group advocated for tweaks to create a buffer for closing speeds, following Oliver Bearman's 50G crash in Japan. The changes aim to foster mutual respect on track without over-policing, Albon said: “We don't want it to be over-policed by the FIA, as drivers, we just want to respect each other first.” Drivers used a WhatsApp group for coordination, with unanimous support noted by Cadillac's Valtteri Bottas and Haas' Oliver Bearman, who praised automated qualifying lap starts that simplify energy management from throttle pressure alone. Bearman added: “Now it's automated, which simplifies things for us.” Specific adjustments include reducing the qualifying energy harvesting limit from 8MJ to 7MJ, raising super clipping to 350kW, and introducing 'low power start detection' that triggers MGU-K deployment for slow getaways. In dry conditions, boost effectiveness is limited when below 150kW, and in low-grip wet weather—forecast for Miami's Sunday race—boost mode is banned entirely to curb speed differences and oversteer risks from high torque. Red Bull's Max Verstappen called the changes “just a tickle” but welcomed drivers' inclusion in talks with FIA and F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali: “That's hopefully a starting point for the future.” Aston Martin's Lance Stroll felt F1 remains “miles off” proper cars, citing nostalgia for nimble V8 and V10 eras, while Ferrari's Charles Leclerc approved the measured approach: “It's all about not overreacting.” Most drivers, including Alpine's Pierre Gasly and Mercedes' George Russell, see it as progress toward instinctive racing, with more changes possible after data review. The FIA emphasized these evolutions prioritize safety and spectacle without major disruption.
