Last Monday, the Formula 1 technical regulations were officially updated. Following insights gathered from the first three rounds of the 2026 season, and in response to significant criticism also voiced by drivers, the FIA—after a series of meetings with teams and power unit manufacturers—decided to intervene on several key aspects of the current ruleset.
The approved changes will come into effect starting from the next race on the calendar, the Miami Grand Prix, marking an important early correction in a season that is already generating intense debate.
On this topic, Will Buxton praised Formula 1 and the FIA for responding quickly to criticism of the 2026 regulations and for implementing changes without delay. Speaking on the “Up To Speed” podcast, Buxton highlighted how unusual it is in the modern era of the championship to see such rapid regulatory adjustments, especially given the demanding race calendar.
“There was a lot of talk about the fact that the changes wouldn’t come immediately because we now have two sprint races scheduled,” Buxton explained. “Would it have been better to wait until after them? Or maybe was it better to introduce the corrections after Monaco? I have to take my hat off, honestly, to Formula 1, the FIA, the teams, and the drivers, because they have actually managed to complete this process quickly, clearly listening to what the fans, the teams, and the drivers were saying.”
“They made the changes immediately because I think the criticism was very serious. But we also have to be honest and say: ‘Well, they acted.’ They could have simply waited for the right moment. They could have buried their heads in the sand and said: ‘The numbers are great, everything is fantastic, we have loads of overtaking, what you’re talking about is amazing.’ But they didn’t do that. They listened, they collaborated. All stakeholders came together and said: ‘Yes, let’s make some changes.’”
The updated regulations include adjustments to energy management parameters, a reduction of the maximum energy recovery limit to 7 MJ, an increase in peak power output of the super-clip to 350 kW, and a limitation of race boost to 150 kW in order to prevent dangerous closing speeds between cars—similar to what was seen in Suzuka between Oliver Bearman and Franco Colapinto.
Finally, an anti-stall launch system has also been introduced: when a car is detected as potentially stalling on the grid, creating a risk of being hit by approaching cars, the system automatically activates the MGU-K, allowing the car to get moving without relying on the turbo, thereby reducing the risk of collisions.
In parallel, intermediate tyre temperatures have also been increased, with the aim of improving grip in wet conditions.
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