FIA Issue official Statement over Driver’s Survey on 2026 F1 Rules
The FIA has released an official statement addressing growing concerns from drivers over Formula 1’s sweeping 2026 regulation changes, following a detailed survey conducted during pre-season testing.
The announcement came after a meeting of the F1 Commission on Wednesday, 18 February, at the Bahrain International Circuit, which is hosting the second official pre-season test ahead of next month’s season-opening Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.
In its statement, the FIA confirmed that several refinements to the 2026 Formula 1 Regulations had been agreed upon during discussions. These updates will now be submitted to the World Motor Sport Council for final approval. However, despite vocal criticism from some drivers, the governing body has stopped short of introducing any immediate major rule changes.
Driver feedback under review
With 2026 marking one of the most significant regulatory overhauls in modern F1 history, teams and manufacturers are still in the early stages of understanding the full impact of the new technical framework. The FIA emphasized that, as with any major rule reset, collective learning is ongoing.
According to the statement, teams, power unit manufacturers, the FIA and Formula One Management (FOM) remain committed to working through outstanding technical matters before the first race of the season.
Central to the discussions was feedback gathered directly from drivers through a survey initiated by the FIA. The questionnaire covered a broad range of topics, including overall car characteristics, aerodynamic behaviour, overtaking potential, tyre performance, mechanical grip, and — most controversially — the new hybrid power units and energy management systems.
Encouragingly for the sport’s leadership, drivers reportedly responded positively to several aspects of the 2026 chassis changes. The reduced weight and smaller dimensions of the new cars were particularly well received, with many drivers noting improved ride quality and sharper initial acceleration compared to previous machinery.
Energy management sparks concern
While the redesigned chassis has drawn praise, the same cannot be said for the all-new power units.
Energy deployment and race start procedures have emerged as major sticking points. Under the 2026 rules, drivers must spool the turbochargers in the hybrid engines for up to 10 seconds before launching off the grid — a far more intricate and demanding process than in previous seasons.
There are fears that the added complexity could lead to stalled cars at the start, increasing the risk of rear-end collisions, particularly if drivers behind have limited visibility. Safety concerns surrounding race starts were therefore high on the agenda during the Commission meeting.
The FIA acknowledged that further evaluation and technical checks relating to energy management will continue over the remaining days of testing in Bahrain. However, it stressed that the current data set remains limited and that making sweeping changes at this stage could destabilize preparations ahead of Melbourne.
“It was agreed that no immediate major regulatory changes were required,” the statement explained, warning that premature adjustments could create unnecessary instability so close to the season opener. More comprehensive reviews are expected once additional data becomes available.
Race systems and future sprint expansion
Beyond power unit concerns, constructive discussions also took place regarding possible updates to race start systems and on-car management software. These will be assessed during the remainder of the Bahrain test.
The Commission also explored the potential expansion of sprint events in the coming years. While no changes will be implemented for 2026, talks centred on the possibility of increasing the number of sprint weekends from six to as many as 12 starting in 2027, citing strong demand from fans and promoters.
For now, the FIA appears determined to balance stability with responsiveness — acknowledging driver unease while resisting the temptation to react hastily. With the Australian Grand Prix fast approaching, the coming days of testing in Bahrain may prove decisive in shaping the final tweaks to Formula 1’s bold new era.
