Formula 1 could bring adjustments to energy management rules as early as this season, according to Nikolas Tombazis, the FIA’s single-seater technical director. After the Australian GP, which highlighted difficulties with the new 2026 regulations, Tombazis stated that the governing body has some ‘tricks up its sleeve’ to address concerns raised by several drivers and fans.
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“We had a meeting with the teams about ten days ago, after the tests in Bahrain, to review the issue. The unanimous position was to keep the current rules for the first races and evaluate the situation when we have more data,” Tombazis stated over the weekend in Melbourne. He added that the analysis should take place after the Chinese GP, aiming for possible adjustments in energy management.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff reinforced the importance of considering fans’ opinions and highlighted F1’s flexibility to implement changes during the season: “Clearly, we are all stakeholders in the sport. We need the best cars, the best drivers, and exciting races for the fans. If adjustments are needed, Formula 1 has the flexibility to make those corrections,” Wolff said.
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Criticism of the new generation of cars focuses on the impact of energy management on performance and race excitement, but the FIA states that any changes will be based on data and careful analysis, avoiding hasty decisions.
With the review scheduled for after the Chinese GP, the championship keeps the door open for improvements that could balance safety, performance, and spectacle throughout 2026.
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