During this one-month break in the Formula 1 calendar, following the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix, discussions are taking place between the FIA, Liberty Media and the teams in an attempt to find a solution to what many are calling the “debacle” of the new technical regulations. However, it is highly unlikely that any significant changes will be made to correct the shortcomings of these new power units. In the long term, a return to a 100% internal combustion engine is being considered, but the credibility of the sport cannot afford to wait until 2031, because by then it will already be too late for Formula 1.
In Formula 1, this month-long break has become a period of intense debate between the FIA, Liberty Media and the teams, as they try to identify adequate solutions to the many problems that have emerged during the first three rounds of the championship under the new technical regulations. Meetings were held yesterday, but they ultimately ended without any concrete outcome.
April 20 is expected to be the day when potential regulatory adjustments could be approved, particularly regarding energy management within the current Formula 1 framework. In essence, these would be a kind of “painkiller solution” meant to give the impression that the right fixes are being found. In reality, however, little to nothing will change, and the technical regulations remain, without doubt, highly questionable for a Formula 1 that feels increasingly distant from what it once was.
A Formula 1 that must “save energy” is, quite simply, something that should not even be mentioned seriously. Drivers are effectively becoming “hostages” of an illogical FIA regulatory framework, one that seems designed more for taxi drivers than for professional racing drivers. If Formula 1 is to survive, the regulations need to take a step back. And perhaps, after what has been seen in these opening races, the FIA, Liberty Media and the teams are finally beginning to seriously reflect on the future direction of the sport.
As reported in recent days by Auto Motor und Sport, behind-the-scenes discussions are taking place regarding the future of the category, with the possibility of a return to 100% internal combustion engines. This would mean removing the electric component entirely. However, such a change would not arrive before 2031, after the end of the current technical cycle scheduled for 2030. The proposal would involve a 2.4-litre turbocharged V8 engine running on 100% sustainable fuels.
But the real question is this: can Formula 1 afford to wait until 2031? Five seasons under the current technical regulations may simply be too many for a championship that is already disappointing expectations, both from fans and from drivers. Among them, Max Verstappen has reportedly even considered the possibility of an early exit from Formula 1, having already expressed strong doubts about the new power units even before the season began.
With the exception of Mercedes, which is expected to dominate not only this season but potentially also the next ones—despite the FIA’s introduction of the ADUO system—other Formula 1 teams may be left fighting for scraps. There is a real risk that the sport has already reached a point of no return unless drastic decisions are taken in the near future. And this is not about penalising Mercedes, which has simply done a better job than its rivals, but rather about restoring identity to a championship that is steadily losing interest. While officials may talk about packed circuits every race weekend, the reality appears to be quite different.
Many of these so-called new Formula 1 fans are not necessarily motorsport enthusiasts in the traditional sense, but rather part of a trend, as Formula 1 has increasingly become a form of entertainment and fashion rather than a pure sport. This shift has been strongly driven by social media and so-called “motorsport influencers” who, in some cases, barely even know the engine capacity of these cars. However, this does not concern Liberty Media, as the American ownership appears primarily focused on the commercial side rather than the technical or sporting essence of Formula 1. The product may eventually be sold to another investment fund in the coming years, but the fear is that only then will the sport attempt to reverse course—when it is already too late. Formula 1 cannot afford to wait five seasons to save itself. Action must be taken as soon as possible.
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