Charles Leclerc relieved as FIA drops restrictive 98% throttle rule in F1 qualifying update. FIA removes problematic 98% throttle rule, easing F1 qualifying pressure on Charles Leclerc.

A quiet but significant adjustment to the Formula 1 2026 qualifying regulations has been introduced, bringing relief to drivers across the grid, including Charles Leclerc, who had previously expressed frustration with the system during competitive sessions.

The change relates to how qualifying power deployment is managed through FIA-controlled software, a key part of the new generation of hybrid-era regulations. The rule in question affected throttle usage in specific track zones where energy management systems require drivers to temporarily enter a power-limited mode. Under the previous interpretation, drivers needed to meet a strict throttle condition, which became a source of confusion and inconsistency during laps.

During the Sprint qualifying session in China, Charles Leclerc highlighted the issue firsthand. While pushing through his flying lap, the Ferrari driver experienced oversteer on exit from Turn 10, forcing a brief lift in throttle input below the critical threshold. That small correction was enough to expose a flaw in the system logic that governs energy deployment in qualifying conditions.

Why the 98% throttle rule became a problem in F1 qualifying

At the heart of the issue was the so-called 98% throttle requirement. To activate the power-limited phase of qualifying software, drivers were previously required to maintain more than 98% throttle for a continuous one-second window. This period was designed as a trigger mechanism, often referred to as the “power limit waiting time.”

In theory, the system worked effectively when a driver maintained a stable and predictable throttle application. However, in real-world qualifying conditions—where small corrections are constant—the rule created unintended consequences. If a driver briefly lifted off the throttle after reaching the 98% threshold, the activation sequence would reset entirely. When the driver reapplied throttle above 98%, the process would start again from zero, leading to inconsistent energy deployment and unexpected variations in performance.

Charles Leclerc experienced exactly this scenario during the Chinese Sprint qualifying session, where a minor correction mid-corner disrupted his energy management phase and affected the consistency of his lap execution. The incident quickly became a talking point within Ferrari and across the paddock.

FIA responds with important software update for 2026 F1 rules

Following feedback from drivers and teams, the FIA has now revised the system to eliminate this restrictive mechanism. Under the updated 2026 Formula 1 qualifying rules, the requirement for continuous throttle above 98% for one second has been removed entirely.

Instead, the FIA-controlled software will now automatically activate the power-limited mode one second after the driver crosses the 98% throttle threshold for the first time. Crucially, this activation will occur regardless of any subsequent throttle adjustments, removing the need for perfect throttle stability during that brief phase of the lap.

This adjustment is expected to significantly improve consistency in qualifying simulations and reduce unpredictable variations in energy deployment. For Charles Leclerc, it removes a layer of artificial complexity that previously punished natural corrections made at the limit of performance.

Impact on drivers

For Ferrari, the change is particularly relevant as both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton operate at the absolute limit of car control during qualifying runs. The previous system risked penalizing small, instinctive corrections that are often unavoidable when extracting maximum performance from modern Formula 1 machinery.

With the rule now simplified, drivers are expected to focus more on pure lap performance rather than managing software-triggered inconsistencies. This should lead to cleaner qualifying execution and a more predictable interpretation of energy deployment across different circuits.

Overall, the FIA’s adjustment represents another step in refining the complex 2026 technical framework. While subtle on paper, the impact in high-pressure qualifying environments could be significant, especially for top drivers like Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, where thousandths of a second often define grid positions.