Ocon breaks down FIA shake‑up ahead of Miami GP

Haas driver Esteban Ocon broke down the FIA’s new regulation tweaks ahead of the Miami Grand Prix, saying they move in the right direction but real judgment will only come on track. He praised the removal of the pre‑qualifying launch and tighter lift‑and‑coast limits, yet warned that drivers still lack a consistent reference beyond the simulator.

Why it matters:

• The changes aim to curb the lift‑and‑coast effect that has slowed corner exits and straight‑line acceleration.
• An automatic qualifying launch could level the field for midfield teams still lagging in power‑unit performance.

The details:

• Automatic launch for qualifying – drivers now start the lap from a standstill after the final corner, removing the 50 % launch boost that required separate activation.
• Lift‑and‑coast limits – the FIA reduced harvested energy while coasting, forcing a more continuous power application.
• Simulator as the only reference – Ocon warned that without on‑track data, teams are still fine‑tuning setups in virtual environments.
• Early‑season hiccups remain, but Ocon feels the new rules are an improvement over the first three races.

What's next:

• The FIA signalled further tweaks this season, so drivers can expect more revisions to lift‑and‑coast and qualifying procedures.
• Two‑time champion Fernando Alonso remains skeptical, suggesting the true impact will only be clear after several races under the new rules.

The Miami session will be the first real test of the FIA’s overhaul, and the paddock will be watching closely.