The 2026 regulations continue to spark debate in Formula 1: Colapinto’s super clipping causes the Argentine to lose nearly 100 km/h
The 2026 regulations continue to spark debate in Formula 1, and from the Suzuka Circuit comes another episode already making waves across the paddock.
The protagonist? Franco Colapinto – not usually a headline name, but the Argentine driver (with Italian roots) became the victim of an impressive super clipping phenomenon during one of his long runs on the historic Japanese circuit.
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Today, however, the focus is less on individual performance and more on energy management. The 2026 cars rely far more on the electrical component than before – shifting from roughly 80-20 to 50-50 between combustion and electric power – making energy balance throughout the lap absolutely crucial.
When electrical energy is depleted, the car suddenly loses a significant portion of its power on the straights. This leads to sharp and visible drops in speed, particularly at circuits like Suzuka, where long high-speed sections put heavy pressure on the power units and make super clipping especially evident.
The Telemetry: A 100 km/h Drop
And that’s exactly what happened to Colapinto. Telemetry data shows that during one of his long-run laps, the Argentine driver lost nearly 100 km/h approaching the 130R corner, despite being at 100% throttle. A sudden and unusual drop caused by depleted electrical energy left the car almost powerless at one of the fastest points on the circuit.
The incident immediately sparked debate in the paddock. While the FIA has already reduced the maximum energy deployment for qualifying to help limit this phenomenon, many fans are already criticizing the situation, arguing that it goes against the extreme spirit of Formula 1.
Despite the controversy, the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile and Formula 1 are determined to preserve the progress made in recent years. Possible adjustments are already being evaluated to reduce the impact of super clipping. There is confidence that improvements will come soon – allowing fans to continue enjoying the spectacular racing seen in recent seasons. And with the impressive aerodynamic and chassis design of the 2026 cars, the future of Formula 1 could even become better than before.
Photo: BWT Alpine F1 Team
