Anticipation is building ahead of the April 9 meeting between the FIA and Formula 1 team representatives. The summit is set to assess the main issues that have emerged during the opening phase of the 2026 championship and to evaluate potential regulatory adjustments. In recent hours, specialized outlet The Race revealed the five key points on the agenda, outlining the direction the sport could take to improve both racing spectacle and on-track safety.
1. Simplification and a return to driver focus
The first item on the agenda signals a broader philosophical shift. The goal is to simplify the current and highly complex regulatory framework, ensuring that performance and car management rely more heavily on driver skill and instinct, while reducing the influence of electronic control systems. This approach aims to restore a more “pure racing” feel to Formula 1.
2. Changes to “super clipping” at 350 kW
To reduce the excessive use of lift-and-coast techniques—where drivers lift off the throttle before braking to conserve energy—the FIA is considering increasing the so-called “super clipping” threshold from the current 250 kW to 350 kW. This adjustment is intended to provide a more manageable power delivery curve at the end of straights, improving consistency and reducing abrupt slowdowns.
3. Optimizing energy deployment
The third point focuses on how electrical energy is distributed throughout the lap. Under the current 2026 regulations, cars tend to deplete energy too quickly, often releasing too much power in the wrong sections of the circuit. The objective is to revise energy mapping to ensure a more balanced and consistent deployment across the entire lap, improving both performance and drivability.
4. Reducing recharge limits (from 9 MJ to 6 MJ)
Closely linked to the previous topic, there is also discussion around lowering the maximum energy recovery limit per lap, from 9 MJ to 6 MJ. This change would make it significantly easier for drivers to reach the required regeneration targets, drastically reducing the need for lift-and-coast and abnormal deceleration. However, the trade-off would be a lower total amount of available energy, which could make cars slightly slower over a single lap.
5. Fully active aerodynamics in qualifying
The final point, already hinted at in recent days, concerns the Saturday qualifying format. To work around battery limitations on a single lap, the FIA is considering allowing drivers to use active aerodynamics freely across the entire circuit during qualifying, removing predefined zones. This approach recalls the unrestricted use of DRS seen in the 2011 and 2012 seasons and could significantly reduce drag, helping to avoid unwanted power cuts before the finish line.
These five proposals highlight Formula 1’s ongoing effort to refine the 2026 regulations, balancing innovation, performance, safety, and entertainment. The outcome of the April 9 meeting could play a decisive role in shaping the future direction of the sport.
As the April 9 summit approaches, the focus remains on whether these five points can strike the right balance between hybrid innovation and the raw racing DNA fans expect. With teams pushing for more autonomy and the FIA concerned about safety deltas, the outcome of this meeting will likely define the trajectory of the 2026 season and beyond. Ensuring that the world’s best drivers can push to the limit without being tethered by energy constraints is a priority that all parties seem to finally agree upon.
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