FIA President Confirms 'Invaluable' Driver Talks on 2026 F1 Rules

FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem has confirmed that the governing body has held "invaluable" discussions with Formula 1 drivers regarding significant concerns over the proposed 2026 power unit regulations. The talks focused on driver-raised issues like potentially dangerous closing speeds and mandatory lift-and-coast in qualifying, with input set to inform a critical meeting with team principals and F1 CEOs ahead of a final proposal vote.

Why it matters:

The 2026 regulations represent the biggest technical shift in a generation, moving to a 50/50 split between the internal combustion engine and electrical power. Getting these rules wrong could compromise the core racing product—safety and competition—for years. Direct driver consultation is rare at this stage and signals the FIA is taking serious feedback on board to avoid fundamental flaws before the rules are locked in.

The Details:

• Driver Concerns: The majority of the grid has criticized the current 2026 framework, specifically highlighting two major issues:
  • Dangerous Closing Speeds: The aerodynamic and power delivery characteristics could create unsafe speed differentials between cars on straights, complicating overtaking and increasing risk.
  • Qualifying Compromise: Drivers may be forced to use excessive "lift-and-coast" (lifting off the throttle early to save energy) even during a single qualifying lap, undermining the pure performance spectacle.
• Accelerated Timeline: The cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix opened an unexpected window for these discussions and for proposals to be prepared for implementation as early as the Miami Grand Prix in May.
• Collaborative Process: Throughout April, the FIA has held a series of technical meetings with team representatives and power unit manufacturers alongside the driver consultations, aiming for a collaborative revision process.
• Critical Meeting: The drivers' input will be central to discussions at a key meeting on April 20th involving F1 CEOs and all ten team principals, which will shape the final regulatory proposal.

What's Next:

The outcome of the April 20th meeting will lead to a finalized set of proposed amendments to the 2026 regulations.

• These final proposals will then be put before the FIA's World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) for an e-vote to gain official approval.
• The swift action, aiming for potential changes by Miami, indicates a desire to resolve these core performance and safety concerns well before teams freeze their fundamental 2026 car designs.