All stakeholders have agreed to a slate of refinements to Formula 1’s 2026 regulations, following an online meeting on Monday involving the FIA, Team Principals, CEOs of Power Unit Manufacturers and FOM. The final proposals will now be put to an FIA World Motor Sport Council e-vote before their planned implementation. According to the FIA, the measures are set to come into force from the Miami Grand Prix, with race-start changes to be tested in Miami first and adopted after feedback and analysis.
The package is the product of several weeks of consultation between the FIA and technical representatives, with extensive input from F1 drivers. Discussions were guided by data collected at the opening three rounds of the 2026 season in Australia, China and Japan.
In qualifying, the goal is to promote performance by simplifying energy usage. Maximum permitted recharge will be reduced from 8MJ to 7MJ to curb excessive harvesting and support more consistent flat-out running, targeting a superclip duration of roughly two to four seconds per lap. Peak superclip power will rise from 250 kW to 350 kW—also applied in race conditions—to shorten recharge demands and reduce driver workload on energy management.
The number of events where alternative lower energy limits may apply increases from eight to 12, giving more flexibility to adapt to differing circuit characteristics.
Race rules have been tuned for safety and consistency of performance. The maximum power available via Boost in race conditions is capped at +150 kW (or the car’s current power level at activation if higher) to prevent sudden performance differentials. MGU-K deployment remains 350 kW in key acceleration zones—from corner exit to the braking point, including overtaking areas—but is limited to 250 kW around the rest of the lap, a combination aimed at controlling closing speeds while maintaining overtaking opportunities.
For race starts, an enhanced safety mechanism has been developed. A low-power start detection system will identify cars with abnormally low acceleration shortly after clutch release and automatically trigger MGU-K deployment to ensure a minimum level of acceleration, mitigating start-related risks without conferring any sporting advantage.
An accompanying visual warning system will activate flashing rear and lateral lights on affected cars to alert those behind. A reset of the energy counter at the start of the formation lap is included to correct a previously identified system inconsistency.
Wet-weather provisions target improved control and visibility. Tyre blanket temperatures for intermediate tyres have been increased following driver feedback to boost initial grip and performance. Maximum ERS deployment will be reduced to limit torque in low-grip conditions, and the rear light systems have been simplified to deliver clearer, more consistent visual cues for following drivers.
These refinements are scheduled to be introduced from the Miami Grand Prix weekend, with the race-start procedures undergoing a live test there before potential adoption once feedback and analysis are complete. The FIA’s World Motor Sport Council e-vote is the next formal step ahead of roll-out.
What to watch next: the outcome of the WMSC e-vote and the Miami trial of the start-detection and warning systems, as well as how the revised energy parameters shape qualifying runs and race deployment in the early phase of the season.
Source: formula1.com