The new era of Formula 1 was meant to represent a major step forward, combining advanced hybrid technology with pure racing spectacle. Instead, after just three race weekends, the paddock finds itself caught in an increasingly intense debate: qualifying sessions that no longer reflect true performance, drivers forced to manage energy rather than push flat-out, incidents raising safety concerns, and a set of regulations that already appears difficult to control.
In this tense environment, Red Bull has decided to take a firm stance, calling for decisive action from the FIA. Laurent Mekies has pointed to a critical issue that, in his view, can no longer be ignored: the qualifying format needs to be fundamentally reconsidered. According to him, the 2027 season may represent the final opportunity to restore order to a system that risks losing its core identity.
A format that no longer reflects Formula 1 speed
The criticism is not limited to the so-called “yo-yo” races, but focuses primarily on qualifying, which has increasingly become an exercise in energy management rather than a test of outright speed. Drivers are slowing down during their own flying laps, coasting in the final sectors, and suffering from extreme energy depletion—known as super clipping—that costs them tens of kilometers per hour on the straights.
The crash involving Ollie Bearman in Japan brought the issue into sharp focus, highlighting risks that the FIA is now attempting to mitigate through emergency measures, such as reducing the amount of energy that can be recovered over a single lap. However, these short-term fixes have done little to address the root of the problem.
Mekies summarized the sentiment shared by many within the paddock:
“We would all like to see qualifying sessions that are flat-out, or as close as possible to flat-out qualifying.”
According to the Red Bull team principal, restoring this fundamental aspect of Formula 1 should be the sport’s top priority.
The need for a long-term solution
The Formula 1 Commission is set to meet on April 9 to review the opening rounds of the season, but Red Bull is already looking beyond immediate adjustments. The changes introduced at Suzuka, as well as potential tweaks for Miami, are viewed as temporary solutions rather than definitive answers. Mekies emphasized that the real effort must focus on the 2027 regulations, when teams will have sufficient time to adapt their cars to a more coherent technical framework.
He made his position clear:
“The focus should be on how to solve the issue properly for next year.”
“We still have time to do enough if we want to address the problem and have flat-out qualifying by 2027.”
In Mekies’ view, once the true nature of qualifying is restored, race dynamics will also improve, with fewer artificial elements and a greater emphasis on genuine competition.
A crossroads for Formula 1
Between urgent interventions and broader reflections on the future, Formula 1 now faces a critical crossroads. The sport must decide whether to continue patching a regulation set that is already showing its limitations or to rethink key elements in order to preserve its identity.
Red Bull has sent a clear message to the governing body. The responsibility now lies with the FIA to determine whether it will take decisive action or allow the current trajectory to continue, risking further criticism from teams, drivers, and fans alike.
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