Directly from the FIA, Nikolas Tombazis spoke about the 2026 F1 regulations, analyzing how they will evolve following the recent modifications
The 2026 F1 regulations are changing. That the rules would eventually need to be tweaked was probably inevitable, especially following the major critical issues that emerged in the first three rounds of the World Championship and the frequent complaints from fans and drivers.
And so, after a meeting held on April 20 between Team Principals, FOM, and the FIA, it was decided to implement the first modifications to this year’s regulations, with the effects of these changes already visible in Miami.
Tombazis’ Words: Qualifying, Bearman’s Crash, and the Race Starts Issue
Nikolas Tombazis, speaking on behalf of the FIA, began by commenting on the partial regulation changes: “There was broad unanimity on all aspects, which will help ensure that drivers focus on driving and push to the limit in qualifying”.
Tombazis then highlighted the achievement of a total agreement on the issue of lift and coast, especially in qualifying, following pressure from the GPDA: “The drivers will push harder on Saturday, you will perceive it by watching the onboard cameras and hearing the engine sound. Furthermore, the type of problem we saw with Ollie Bearman’s crash in Suzuka should essentially be avoided from the next race “
He then addressed the much-discussed topic of race starts: “Regarding the risks at the starts, it will probably take two or three races to implement the changes. We will do some tests in Miami and Canada, but basically, we will have a safety net.”
“Therefore, if it is detected that a car is having an extremely problematic start, the electrical system will activate and take control, ensuring the car gets away safely to avoid problems for the cars behind.”
Finally, on the start of the 2026 season: “The first races went pretty well in many aspects: the racing was exciting, closely fought, and with many overtakes, but there were certainly also situations where it was necessary to intervene. Therefore, the approach we took was one of evolution and refinement, not of revolution “.
“But we are all still learning about these regulations; it’s not like the job is done now and we can all go on holiday.”
