Formula One’s governing body, the FIA, has agreed a set of rule changes for the 2026 season following concerns about the way the new cars have been performing in the opening three races. Most changes will take effect from the Miami Grand Prix on 3rd May.

The 2026 season introduced a significant overhaul of technical regulations, with cars running a new hybrid power system that gives electric motors a much greater role than before. The changes agreed on 20th April are designed to address problems that have emerged with how that system works in practice.

The core problem

The new hybrid system allows cars to harvest and store electrical energy under braking, then deploy it for extra power on acceleration. In the opening races, drivers have had to manage this energy very carefully, leading to frustrating moments where cars are not running at full power — harvesting energy rather than using it — which has affected the quality of racing and placed a heavy burden on drivers to constantly monitor their energy levels.

What is changing

The FIA has adjusted the energy parameters to reduce the amount of harvesting and allow cars to run flat-out more consistently. Peak electrical power has also been increased, which means cars will spend less time in energy-saving mode. The result should be more straightforward, faster racing with less of the energy management that has complicated matters in the early rounds.

In race conditions, a cap has been placed on the maximum power boost available, preventing sudden and dramatic speed differentials between cars that could make overtaking dangerous rather than exciting.

A new safety system has also been introduced for race starts, designed to detect cars that fail to accelerate normally off the line and automatically provide them with a minimum level of power — reducing the risk of a slow car being hit from behind at the start. Affected cars will also flash warning lights to alert the drivers behind them. This system will be tested in Miami before being formally adopted.

For wet weather racing, tyre temperatures have been adjusted to improve grip on damp surfaces, and electrical power output will be reduced to give drivers more control in slippery conditions. Rear lights have also been simplified to make cars more visible in poor weather.

FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem said the speed at which the changes had been agreed reflected the commitment of everyone involved. “Safety and sporting fairness remain the FIA’s highest priorities. We look forward to the rest of what promises to be an exciting 2026 season.”

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Photo of Charles Leclerc driving for Scuderia Ferrari at the Japanese Grand Prix, source: Scuderia Ferrari Media Centre