Sky Sports Formula 1 commentator David Croft has called on the FIA to adjust the 2026 regulations ahead of the British Grand Prix at Silverstone. He expressed concerns that battery limitations could ruin iconic corners like Maggotts and Becketts. The rules are under review during an April break following team and driver complaints.
David Croft voiced his hopes for changes during an appearance on the Sky Sports F1 Show. He highlighted worries about battery performance in sustaining flat-out racing over a full lap and grand prix distance. Croft specifically wants adjustments in time for Silverstone to preserve the track's challenging sections. “I would like to think we get it right before Silverstone because what I don't want to see is great corners Maggotts and Becketts suffer because of these new regulations where they're not proper corners anymore,” Croft said. The concerns stem from incidents like Haas driver Ollie Bearman's high-speed crash at the Japanese Grand Prix. Bearman lost control after avoiding Franco Colapinto's Alpine, which was harvesting energy at the time. This example underscored energy deployment issues under the new rules. Croft anticipates Silverstone will spotlight these problems further, especially in qualifying. He posed a question to fans: whether they would accept lap times two seconds slower per lap to emphasize internal combustion engines and enable drivers to race on the limit.
