The adjustments to the technical regulations outlined by Nicholas Tombazis reshape the balance between performance and safety, without scaling back a revolution that has only just begun.
The 2026 Formula 1 season was conceived under the banner of ambition: a generational shift in regulations that has redesigned the cars from the ground up, redefined the relationship between thermal and electrical power, and promised a completely new spectacle for fans and teams alike. Yet, after just three Grands Prix, the reality on track has forced the FIA and all stakeholders involved to undertake an urgent and necessary reassessment of certain aspects.
Nicholas Tombazis, the FIA’s head of single-seater technical matters, presented the approved changes to the Technical Regulations, making it clear from the outset that the scope of the intervention remains limited. There is no radical overhaul on the table, but rather a careful and deliberate refinement of rules that are already in force.
Qualifying and speed differentials: when technology becomes a safety concern
The first major issue addressed is the one that has most affected both the spectacle and the substance of the race weekend: qualifying. In the opening rounds of the season, drivers found themselves unable to execute a pure flying lap in the traditional sense. Instead, they were forced to carefully manage their efforts based on energy recovery strategies rather than relying purely on instinct and outright performance.
“In some cases, drivers could not push as much as they wanted or go flat out due to energy recovery,” Nicholas Tombazis explained, summarizing a frustration that has been widely shared not only by the drivers themselves but also by teams, engineers, and fans watching from the outside.
The FIA’s response, coordinated from Place de la Concorde, operates on multiple levels. The maximum energy recovery allowed during a qualifying lap has been reduced from 8 MJ to 7 MJ, thereby limiting the need for complex and often counterintuitive recharge strategies. At the same time, the maximum power of the so-called superclipping has been increased from 250 kW to 350 kW, giving drivers greater freedom to express themselves during acceleration phases.
To further complement these measures, the number of events in which alternative lower-energy limits can be applied has been increased from 8 to 12 races, effectively expanding operational flexibility across the entire season. “These adjustments will allow drivers to focus exclusively on driving,” Nicholas Tombazis emphasized, “which is what everyone — fans, teams, and the drivers themselves — want to see.”
However, qualifying was not the only concern. The real alarm bell rang at Suzuka, where the incident involving Oliver Bearman exposed a potentially dangerous imbalance. The speed difference between a car harvesting energy and another running at full power proved to be unacceptably large. In that scenario, Franco Colapinto, who was in an energy harvesting phase, found himself exposed to a speed differential significant enough to turn a routine racing situation into a serious safety risk.
The FIA reacted by introducing a limitation on maximum electric power — reduced from 350 kW to 250 kW — in specific sections of the circuits. In addition, it has been ensured that pressing the turbo button will no longer result in a power increase when the battery is in a discharge phase. This is a measure that partially sacrifices peak performance in favor of a fundamental and non-negotiable principle: driver safety.
Race starts and wet conditions: a new generation reveals its weaknesses
The second area of intervention concerns two seemingly distinct scenarios — race starts and wet conditions — which are in fact linked by the same structural vulnerability of the new generation of cars. “This generation of cars is particularly sensitive to turbo pressure levels at the exact moment when the lights go out,” Nicholas Tombazis explained.
The consequence, already observed on track, has been severely compromised starts, with cars struggling to launch effectively in those crucial opening moments, creating dangerous situations for drivers behind. The solution involves the introduction of an automatic safety mode: if the system detects an excessively slow start, it will intervene autonomously to ensure that the car can still get moving in a consistent and safe manner.
Even more complex, and in some respects unprecedented, is the issue related to wet-weather conditions. Although the 2026 season has yet to feature a wet Grand Prix, the FIA has deemed it essential to address the matter proactively. The extremely high levels of electric power generated by the new cars represent a real unknown on slippery surfaces, where traction management becomes an incredibly delicate balance between physics and driver instinct.
In the event of rain, the federation has decided that not only will the available power be reduced, but the boost mode — the function that allows short but intense bursts of electric deployment — will also be limited. The stated aim is to restore a level of control that is appropriate to the conditions, giving drivers a better chance to manage grip and avoid unpredictable losses of traction.
Nicholas Tombazis concluded his analysis with a striking metaphor: “No one ever thought that the patient — meaning our sport — was in intensive care. It just needed to exercise more, eat an apple a day, and take its vitamins.” This perspective rejects alarmism and instead embraces a philosophy of gradual refinement, fully consistent with the approach that has guided the development of this regulatory cycle.
According to the FIA official, the drivers’ position has largely been aligned: more speed in qualifying and greater safety in races. These are understandable and legitimate requests, and they have now been partially addressed through these targeted adjustments. The 2026 project remains a work in progress, but it is moving forward methodically and with clear intent. Whether these measures will be enough to resolve the emerging issues remains to be seen — and the next race weekend should already provide some important answers.
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