Baku has arrived, bringing with it one of the most demanding energy-management challenges of the 2026 Formula 1 season. The circuit’s main straight, stretching for more than two kilometres, represents one of the worst scenarios for the new-generation power units because the batteries can discharge rapidly over such a prolonged period at full throttle. To limit excessive clipping on the straight, the FIA has therefore introduced special measures that will allow teams to save electrical energy through the more technical sections of the lap and deploy it later on the final run.
The characteristics of the Azerbaijan circuit have already made energy deployment one of the central technical themes of the weekend, with Baku expected to provide a particularly severe test of the 2026 F1 straight-mode and energy-management rules.
FIA introduces special Baku energy-saving measures
The FIA has published its technical notes governing power-unit use at Baku, revealing how it intends to reduce the risk of teams running short of electrical energy on the main straight. As has already happened at other circuits, the governing body has acted on the Power Limited Pending rules, which require the electric motor to be used for one second at a minimum power of 200 kW whenever the driver returns to the accelerator.
The regulations do, however, allow exceptions, and the FIA has decided to make use of them at Baku to reduce unnecessary electrical energy consumption. The sections between Turns 1 and 2, Turns 15 and 16 and, most significantly, between Turn 3 and Turn 12 will be exempt from the rule. The latter covers virtually the entire technical section running from the end of the second straight up towards the castle section.
In practical terms, teams will therefore be able to choose not to use the electric motor through almost all of Baku’s slower and more technical sections, preserving battery charge for deployment on the long final straight. There is another potential benefit for the drivers: they should not need to worry as much about modulating the accelerator simply to avoid abnormal energy consumption, allowing driving at the limit to be rewarded more than pure efficiency management.
Further Power Limited Pending exemption in qualifying
There will be an additional exemption in qualifying. Teams will not have to comply with the Power Limited Pending requirement for the 1,250 metres immediately after Turn 16, the corner that launches the cars onto Baku’s long final acceleration zone.
Teams will instead be able to choose to restore full electrical power after Turn 19 and, in qualifying, also after Turn 20. These are the two right-hand bends taken flat-out along the extended final section of the lap. If required, teams can therefore concentrate electric deployment on the second part of the straight rather than using maximum electrical assistance immediately after Turn 16 and then progressively reducing it as the stored energy runs down.
This approach could make the timing of electrical deployment particularly important along one of Formula 1’s fastest sections. Once the weekend begins, the recorded straight-line figures can also be compared through the ScuderiaFans F1 Top Speed Comparison.
Baku allows more recoverable energy than Monza
The FIA has also set the amount of energy that can be recovered on each lap at 8.5 MJ for qualifying and the race, rising to 9 MJ when overtaking mode is used. That represents an increase compared with Monza, where no more than 7 MJ of energy could be recharged during each lap.
The difference is explained by Baku’s abundance of heavy braking zones. These should provide more opportunities to recharge the battery under braking without requiring teams to draw excessive power from the internal combustion engine while running along the straights.
Overall, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix is set to be one of the most severe events of the season from an energy-management perspective. The hope is that the FIA’s circuit-specific measures will be enough to reduce the most problematic consequences of Baku’s unique combination of slow corners and an exceptionally long full-throttle section. The measures will apply during the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend in Baku.
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