After concerns raised in Melbourne, the Shanghai GP changes the mood in the paddock: FIA and teams postpone any potential changes to the 2026 regulations until Miami.
Formula 1 has decided not to make immediate changes to the 2026 technical regulations. According to The Race, the Federation’s leadership and the teams have chosen to postpone any modifications at least until the Miami Grand Prix, taking more time to analyze the performance of the new cars in the opening races of the season.
From Melbourne to Shanghai, the picture has changed
The FIA’s initial idea, which leaked in recent days, was to hold a meeting between some Federation representatives and the teams to assess the performance of the opening races under the new regulations. Concerns that arose in Melbourne—mainly related to the management of the new power units’ energy—had suggested a possible rapid intervention by the Federation.
The results of the Chinese Grand Prix, however, seem to have helped ease the tension. Shanghai told a different story compared to the Australian round: the races over the weekend delivered a more competitive spectacle than expected, helping to shift the atmosphere in the paddock. Some regulatory changes may be necessary in the future, but for now, there does not appear to be an urgent need for immediate action.
It is precisely this shift in perspective that has led the FIA and Formula 1 to avoid hasty reactions. The consensus among the teams is to gather more data before making changes to a regulation set to define an entire technical cycle. In this sense, the cancellation of the two Grands Prix in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia has created a valuable window of time to reflect more calmly on potential interventions.
The approach, therefore, is one of caution, at least until the sixth race of the season. The next round in Japan will provide an even clearer picture of how the new cars perform on track. At that point, if necessary, any adjustments to the regulations could be defined and approved in time for the Miami event.
Photos: Formula 1, Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team
