Red Bull Racing team principal and CEO Laurent Mekies has shared his thoughts on the new and challenging 2026 regulations and outlined potential solutions for qualifying sessions.
Energy rules change qualifying in 2026
With the introduction of the new 2026 power unit regulations, which more evenly balance thermal and electrical power, qualifying has undergone a significant transformation. Instead of an aggressive, all-out approach, drivers now need to manage energy more conservatively. This has led to practices such as “lift and coast” and slowing through some fast corners to optimize battery charging.
As a result, qualifying has lost part of its pure and spectacular nature, turning into an exercise in energy optimization. Nevertheless, lap times remain competitive: for instance, Kimi Antonelli secured pole in his Mercedes W17 at Suzuka about 1.8 seconds slower than Max Verstappen’s 2025 pole, but still faster than 2022–2023 poles. The 2026 cars deliver impressive acceleration, yet energy management has become one of the most criticized aspects of the new era.
Unanimous consensus in the paddock
According to Mekies, there is total agreement among all stakeholders on the desire to return to more “pure” qualifying sessions.
Mekies told Motorsport: “If there’s one thing we all agree on – all the teams, the FIA, F1, and the drivers – it’s that we would all like to see qualifying sessions where everyone pushes to the limit, or as close to it as possible.” He added that focusing on this goal would also benefit races: “So this is the first thing we’re trying to focus on, as a discipline. And then, what will happen is that once qualifying is improved or reaches a level where you can do full qualifying laps, you’ll automatically have a race with potentially a bit less calculation.”
While acknowledging that opinions differ on energy management during races, Laurent Mekies emphasizes that the top priority remains a return to all-out qualifying.
The proposal and timing
The main solution is to restore qualifying to a level where drivers can push to the maximum without excessive energy management. Laurent Mekies suggests targeted changes for 2027, so that “true” qualifying can already be implemented the following season.
His words: “Personally, I think we should focus on how to do things properly for 2027. We still have time to do what’s necessary if we want to resolve the situation by 2027 and have fully optimized qualifying for next year. And then, I’m sure there are a whole series of small things we can do in 2026.”
For the current season, minor adjustments are expected (“a whole series of small things”), helped by the unscheduled April break caused by the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix, which allows time for quick interventions.
Once the qualifying issue is resolved, energy calculations in races are expected to naturally decrease as well, making races smoother and less “strategic” in terms of battery management.
The paddock appears united on this front: teams, FIA, F1, and drivers share the goal of more authentic and spectacular qualifying. The idea is to preserve the essence of the sport, where qualifying represents a moment of pure attack and maximum performance, without excessive energy-related compromises.
This initiative aims to correct one of the most debated aspects of the new generation of cars, targeting 2027 as the key year for structural change, while 2026 will serve for intermediate refinements.
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