McLaren is clear in its vision for the future. The evolution of Formula 1 requires a fundamental review of energy systems to correct the critical issues emerging from the 2026 regulations. However, this should be seen as only a temporary relief, because the real long-term solutions lie in future hardware modifications to batteries and internal combustion engines, aimed at preserving the quality of the spectacle. The reigning world champion team has no doubts: structural changes are needed to eliminate the risk of unnatural driving.
The energy-saving ghost and the regulatory horizon
The era of the new power units will inevitably continue to place a heavy, almost obsessive focus on efficiency. As highlighted by Mark Temple, McLaren’s Director of Performance Engineering, the 2026 driving dynamics will still require seemingly counterintuitive approaches on circuits where energy is more limited. However, this narrative should not be interpreted as alarmism: energy management is not an anomaly.
On the contrary, it is the natural evolution of fuel-saving strategies that dominated previous Formula 1 technical cycles in an even more invasive way. The long-term goal for teams is not to eliminate the tactical element, but to remove the most extreme and unnatural driving behaviours. Historically, every new technical regulation cycle brings unexplored challenges and grey areas that must be continuously refined over time.
Why real solutions depend on hardware
To fully eliminate these abnormal dynamics, the paddock increasingly recognises that software adjustments or power delivery mapping changes will not be enough. Andrea Stella, McLaren Team Principal, is clear in his assessment: meaningful improvement requires structural intervention on the 2026 power unit hardware. And it is hard to disagree with that view.
Increasing battery capacity or raising the fuel flow rate for the internal combustion engine (ICE) are inevitable steps if overall power output is to be increased. Allowing drivers to push to the limit without suffering drastic power drops through high-speed corners requires time and continuous development.
Modifying hardware is not a short-term solution, and certainly not something that can be implemented in the current season, but discussions at the highest level are already underway. The real regulatory challenge will be to give teams enough margin to align outright performance with the demands of entertainment, while avoiding dangerous or non-competitive speed differentials.
The Miami fix and immediate effects on track
While waiting for these structural changes, the present relies on immediate corrective measures to preserve drivability. The recent adjustments agreed between the FIA and the teams ahead of Miami act as an essential temporary fix for the 2026 specifications. The reduction in energy recovery and the extension of super clipping up to the 350kW threshold have been introduced with a clear objective.
The goal is to minimise the visual impact of power reduction. Extreme practices like heavy lift-and-coast down long straights should become rare, while the dramatic drop in top speed will be partially reduced. Early telemetry data already suggests that braking and acceleration profiles will move closer to more conventional standards.
This appears to be the intended outcome, which, if everything goes as expected, should allow drivers to once again make a real difference in qualifying rather than acting as mere passengers of energy deployment strategies. The remaining question is whether these regulatory “patches” will be enough to calm criticism in the short term, or whether the fix will ultimately prove worse than the problem itself.
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