The drivers are campaigning for a change in the F1 regulations: "It can be very frustrating."

Since the start of the 2026 season, the new regulations of the F1 It continues to be a hot topic. With hybridization now split 50/50 between combustion and electric power, energy management has become the key issue, sometimes at the expense of pure piloting instinct. Faced with the growing frustration of pilots forced to limit their performance to conserve battery power, and with critical safety concerns, governing bodies are preparing to take corrective action.

Taking advantage of a forced pause due to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, the FIA, F1, and the teams have begun a series of four crucial meetings. The first of these took place on April 9th ​​with the technical directors of the various teams in attendance, while the official changes are expected to be voted on the 20th of the same month.

The main areas for improvement thus concern energy management, particularly in qualifying, which has been lamented by several drivers, but also the massive use of "lift and coast" (lifting the throttle well before a turn) and "super clipping" (forced recharging of the electric motor during acceleration).

« It can be frustrating at times, especially during qualifying sessions where your efforts sometimes go unrewarded. Driving at the limit, trying to find a little extra performance under braking and acceleration, only to lose ground on the straights, and that can be very frustrating. “,” Isack Hadjar laments on the set of Formule One: the Canal+ Night Show.

Grievances already expressed by Charles Leclerc during qualifying at Suzuka, even though the maximum recharge limit had already been lowered to 8 MJ during the session. Consistency pays off more than audacity or daring to try something completely new. criticizes the pilot Classic Ferrari for saleIt's a shame, because it makes the qualifying process a little less stimulating. »

In addition to qualifications, Esteban Ocon It also points to difficulties during the race. It's really difficult to plan what you want to do while shopping, especially if you need to recharge to overtake later; it's complicated. he told Canal+. If we want to defend it like we saw with Isack (at the Japanese GP, editor's note)It's also complicated. You can lose a lot. »

Towards a change in the F1 regulations

The major technical challenge now lies in modifying the harvesting thresholds in "super clipping", potentially targeting 350 kW to recover more energy, while lowering the charging limit to 6 MJ in order to reduce the charging cycle and optimize energy deployment.

Beyond pure performance, safety is a primary concern. While worries had already been raised, the collision between Franco Colapinto and Oliver Bearman during the Japanese Grand Prix served as a reminder of the risks associated with excessive speed differences. We also have ideas to make racing safer. We're seeing speed differentials " insists Isack Hadjar.

From a legislative standpoint, any significant change requires a supermajority. For chassis-related aspects, the agreement of seven out of eleven teams is required, in addition to approval from the FIA ​​and F1. Regarding the engine, the vote must include four of the five current engine manufacturers, as well as the governing bodies. Once these consensuses are reached, ratification by the World Motor Sport Council should be a mere formality. While the introduction of these regulatory changes is hoped for at the Miami Grand Prix, scheduled for May 1-3, the first official decisions are expected in the coming days.

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