F1 | Skid block changes under review as FIA aims to prevent grass fires. FIA considers new skid block rules to curb fire risks on track.

One of the iconic features of F1 cars could be lost due to drought-related issues affecting several circuits on the calendar. The planned changes could reduce the visual spectacle of cars speeding through cities and permanent tracks at over 300 km/h. The F1 Commission meets today, and the FIA is expected to propose significant modifications to the skid block to prevent fires.

At the Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka, several patches of grass caught fire due to sparks emitted by the cars. This forced the FIA to interrupt the on-track action five times before Q2, despite preventive measures already in place.

However, the events in Japan were not isolated. Similar scenes occurred during the 2024 Chinese GP as well.

Following the incidents in Japan, the FIA analyzed the causes of the fires, identifying titanium as the main trigger. These fragments, which detach from the plank when it scrapes the track, retain heat for a period of time and can ignite the surrounding grass once they land.

In addition to discussions about the 2026 power units, the FIA is working to find a way to contain this issue.

More safety, at the expense of spectacle
According to The Race, the FIA has proposed banning titanium skid blocks for select races. Initially, the governing body considered modifying trackside areas rather than tackling the root cause of the fires. However, a radical change to the cars is now seen as the better solution to eliminate the risk of grass fires.

The FIA’s proposal would require teams to use steel skid blocks. While steel still produces sparks, they are dimmer than those of titanium. More importantly, steel fragments cool much faster, which is a crucial factor in preventing fires.

The plan, which must be voted on by the teams at the next F1 Commission meeting, would involve using different plank materials depending on the circuit. The decision for each race would be based on the presence of grass near the track.

As a result, we could see cars using steel skid blocks at races like Imola, Spain, Canada, Austria, and others. Meanwhile, tracks like Monaco, Miami, Singapore, Las Vegas, and similar would continue with titanium.

The switch to steel would reduce spark generation and thus lessen the visual impact, but it also brings other challenges—chief among them is weight, as steel is about three times heavier than titanium. Teams would therefore need to adjust the overall mass of their cars accordingly.