David Coulthard calls for “no-recharge zones” to prevent 2026 F1 speed traps. David Coulthard urges the FIA to ban energy harvesting in dangerous high-speed sections like Eau Rouge.

F1 safety concerns grow after energy harvesting incident in Japan

Concerns over safety in Formula 1 have resurfaced following an incident during the Japanese Grand Prix, where Haas driver Oliver Bearman was forced off track while trying to avoid Franco Colapinto’s Alpine. The Argentine driver had suddenly slowed down due to his car entering an energy harvesting phase, creating a significant and unexpected speed difference between the two cars.

This episode has brought back into focus the fears expressed by several drivers earlier in the season. At the time, competitors had warned the FIA about the potential dangers linked to these sudden slowdowns, but their concerns were not immediately addressed. In recent days, FIA technical director Nicholas Tombazis acknowledged the issue, stating: “We had discussed it, but it was not easy to act before having enough time to analyze certain parameters.”

David Coulthard proposes no energy recovery zones at critical corners

Speaking on the Up to Speed podcast, former Formula 1 driver David Coulthard offered his perspective on the matter: “Because of the way these power units harvest energy, you can suddenly be caught out by a speed difference of 50 or 60 km/h, and that puts drivers’ lives at risk. Take Eau Rouge in Belgium — you crest a hill and you cannot see what is happening on the other side. If a car suddenly slows down to harvest energy while you are following at full speed, it could lead to a catastrophe.”

Coulthard then outlined a possible solution to improve safety: “There are certain corners that should be exempt from energy recovery, and in those sections it could simply be decided that drivers are not allowed to slow down. You cannot surprise drivers with such large speed differences in areas where visibility is limited.”

David Coulthard’s warning underscores the growing realization that the 2026 power units have introduced a brand-new type of danger to Formula 1. While the sport has always dealt with speed differentials, the “sudden” nature of modern energy harvesting makes the car ahead behave in a way that is counter-intuitive to a pursuing driver. If the FIA adopts Coulthard’s suggestion, we could see a fundamental shift in how energy management software is programmed for specific sectors of the world’s most dangerous tracks.