Sainz to tone down criticism of F1 regulations, but insists qualifying 'not good enough'

Carlos Sainz has been one of the more vocal critics of F1's new regulations, but after the Miami Grand Prix he signaled a shift in tone—while still holding major reservations. The FIA introduced tweaks ahead of the weekend aimed at addressing energy deployment in qualifying and race scenarios, as well as intermediate tire blanket temperatures and wet-weather procedures.

Why it matters:

The driver complaints center on the energy management software preventing them from pushing flat out. In qualifying, drivers are forced to lift off throttle at the final corner to preserve battery charge, a scenario Sainz and others deem unacceptable for F1. If left unresolved, the sport risks alienating its star drivers and compromising the spectacle.

The details:

• Sainz's new stance: "I'm not going to criticise it anymore. I'm just trying to be productive to keep insisting that this is not good enough for F1." He acknowledged the race improvements and praised the FIA for listening on weather concerns and intermediate tire changes.
• Qualifying still broken: Drivers report being unable to exit the final corner flat out before a push lap—they must rehearse a specific throttle position (often around 50%) in the simulator. Despite the latest tweak, deployment issues persisted in Miami due to track layout quirks.
• Albon's example: Alex Albon lost four-tenths in Turn 1 after letting Sainz by. Backing off confused the software, causing overharvesting that ruined his start. "You try to be nice… but then you ruin your own start," he said.
• Consensus: The changes are a step in the right direction for racing, but fall short of fixing the fundamental issue—drivers being punished for pushing hard in qualifying.

What's next:

Sainz and others expect to keep pushing for more radical changes. The FIA has shown willingness to listen, but convincing power unit manufacturers to accept a different standard will be the real challenge. Further adjustments are likely before the European season resumes.