Following today's meeting between the FIA, Team Principals, CEOs of Power Unit Manufacturers and FOM, a number of "refinements" to the 2026 regulations have been announced.

The final proposals presented, which, it is understood, were unanimously agreed upon, were the result of a series of consultations over the past few weeks between the FIA, technical representatives and extensive input from F1 drivers.

Discussions around potential adjustments were based on data gathered from the first three events of the season.

The 2026 regulations were developed and agreed in close partnership with the FIA, teams, OEMs, Power Unit Manufacturers, and FOM. Changes to the regulations were discussed against the backdrop of this collaboration.

The proposals agreed today were as follows and will be implemented from Miami apart from the race start changes that will be tested in Miami and adopted following feedback and analysis.

Qualifying - promoting performance

Adjustments to energy management parameters, including a reduction in maximum permitted recharge from 8MJ to 7MJ, aimed at reducing excessive harvesting and encouraging more consistent flat-out driving. This change targets a maximum superclip duration reduced to approximately 2-4 seconds per lap.

Peak superclip power increased to 350 kW, previously being 250kW, further reducing the time spent recharging, and reducing driver workload on energy management. This will also be applied in Race conditions.

The number of events where alternative lower energy limits may apply has been increased from 8 to 12 races, allowing greater adaptation to circuit characteristics.

Race - improved safety and consistency of performance

The maximum power available through the Boost in race conditions is now capped at +150 kW (or the car's current power level at activation if higher) limiting sudden performance differentials.

MGU-K deployment is maintained at 350 kW in key acceleration zones (from corner exit to braking point, including overtaking zones) but will be limited to 250 kW in other parts of the lap.

These measures are designed to reduce excessive closing speeds while maintaining overtaking opportunities and overall performance characteristics.

Race starts - enhanced safety mechanisms

A new "low power start detection" system has been developed, capable of identifying cars with abnormally low acceleration shortly after clutch release.

In such cases, an automatic MGU-K deployment will be triggered to ensure a minimum level of acceleration and mitigate start-related risks without introducing any sporting advantage.

An associated visual warning system is being introduced, activating flashing lights (rear and lateral) on affected cars to alert following drivers.

A reset of the energy counter at the start of the formation lap has also been implemented to correct a previously identified system inconsistency.

Wet conditions - improving safety and visibility

Tyre blanket temperatures for intermediate tyres have been increased following driver feedback in order to improve initial grip and tyre performance in wet conditions.

Maximum ERS deployment will be reduced, limiting torque and improving car control in low-grip conditions.

The rear light systems have been simplified, with clearer and more consistent visual cues to improve visibility and reaction time for following drivers in poor conditions.

These final proposals will now be put before a FIA WMSC e-vote with a view to implementation before the Miami Grand Prix on May 3, except for the race starts proposals which will be tested and analysed during that weekend.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by Celtic Tiger, 2 hours ago

"Agreed with everyone. Upvotes for all!
Formula One has sh*t its pants and their solution was to change their shirt. Looks like this year's WDC will be Siri/Alexa."

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2. Posted by Superbird70, 11 hours ago

"The first steps to Waymo racers. Why do they pay the drivers?"

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3. Posted by Editor, 11 hours ago

"@ SF 158

And you'll note that it is one of the first times the Official F1 site refers to the various issues."

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4. Posted by SF 158, 12 hours ago

"Here's the best part: the Official F1 website refers to the changes this way - "Refinements to 2026 F1 regulations agreed by all stakeholders"

Ha Ha All stakeholders? Except the paying fans."

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5. Posted by Editor, 14 hours ago

"@ Team Hack

Also, I cannot help but feel that Toto will be particularly delighted with the outcome."

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6. Posted by Team Hack, 14 hours ago

"I was going to list the people I agree with in the 10 previous comments but I find myself agreeing with every single one!
Gave me a headache just reading about these changes. Normally I would go over it all to work it all out now I just cannot be bothered to even try.
I am sure this is all incredible stuff to tech bros everywhere
but racing? I don’t think so.
Also the biggest worry is, as our esteemed editor points out, it must be that drivers are not 100% in control and that cannot be right or allowed.

‘A new "low power start detection" system
without introducing any sporting advantage’

Software which decides your clutch is not working to spec and will change it accordingly? How Is that not an unfair advantage to some teams?
What happened to stalling or getting too much wheelspin?
Normal driver stuff not an engineering problem."

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7. Posted by Editor, 16 hours ago

"@ Wokingchap

It certainly feels as though the drivers are not in total control of the car at all times, which is surely against the rules.

Late last year they issued catchy new names in order to explain the various modes to new fans, but even long-term fans are struggling with all this stuff."

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8. Posted by Burton, 16 hours ago

"There's a reduction of power to the Boost mode? What about Overtake mode? If they change one but not the other you have even more artificial, guaranteed highway passes and still have dangerous closing speeds.
Unless they're reducing both and the person who wrote the FIA statement is abysmal at their job (quelle surprise...)"

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9. Posted by Wokingchap, 16 hours ago

"Isn't some of this Driver Aids? Certainly looks like it to me. "

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10. Posted by Motorsport-fan, 17 hours ago

"This initial raft of changes just shows how badly they got it wrong."

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11. Posted by Redphyve, 17 hours ago

"
I'll be honest. I barely understand any of this. I'll wait until after the next GP to see if the racing has improved. I wouldn't trust the FIA and Liberty to understand how to improve racing for us fans."

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12. Posted by SF 158, 20/04/2026 23:45

"Somewhere I've lost the plot. Are these 'refinements' about Formula 1? Are they even about 'racing?' What does Bernie make of all this?

Maybe it would save everybody a lot of heartburn if they just raced videogames. Probably as meaningful (and possibly better 'racing' - or whatever F1 today is intended to be).

Thank God Chapman, Enzo, Frank, Ken et al. aren't here to witness this.
"

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13. Posted by itc, 20/04/2026 21:36

"The enshittification of everything continues and F1 has shown it's determined to not get left behind."

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14. Posted by KKK, 20/04/2026 19:44

"What a load of boll***s. Its gonna be just the same. Just go back to last year if you want go have hybrid. This is not F1"

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15. Posted by Chester, 20/04/2026 19:03

"Holy he##. Instead of the driver using his foot to modulate an engine's power, an ECU will now determine what happens when the driver hits the accelerator.

And wow, if a driver f's up his restart, the ECU will help out. How wonderful. Maybe the driver can be made optional and the ECU can drive.

This regulation is beyond redemption. My memory is on the old side, but I am struggling to recall a case where an entity ruined their product as much as the FIA has done with 2026 regulations.

Disgusted."

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FIA reveals "refinements" to 2026 regulations

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