Haas driver Oliver Bearman has raised concerns about the FIA’s decision to reduce energy limits for qualifying at the Japanese Grand Prix, warning the changes could make Formula 1 cars slower on track. The governing body announced it would cut the maximum energy recharge allowance from 9.0 MJ to 8.0 MJ during qualifying sessions at Suzuka, aiming to eliminate lift-and-coast techniques and superclipping that have plagued the current qualifying format.
The energy reduction represents the FIA’s latest attempt to address widespread criticism from drivers who argue that qualifying has shifted away from showcasing individual driving talent to simply determining which car is fastest. The governing body stated the change was designed “to ensure that the intended balance between energy deployment and driver performance is maintained” throughout qualifying sessions.
Speaking to media at Suzuka, Bearman expressed mixed feelings about the regulation change, acknowledging both benefits and drawbacks. “It’s just making us even slower,” the British driver told Motorsport Week. “On one hand, we don’t have to do any lift-and-coast anymore, which is probably a bit better for us, but we still have to recharge the energy. And we spend a lot of time just with no energy, because we’re losing one megajoule compared to what we had on the sim.”
The 20-year-old suggested alternative solutions while praising the FIA’s willingness to address the issues. “I think there are better ways of achieving the same thing. If we could harvest at negative 350 kilowatts while on full throttle, I think it would make everyone’s lives a bit easier, but this is also a solution, I guess,” Bearman explained.
Bearman expressed particular concern about how the energy constraints might affect the spectacle at Suzuka’s iconic corners, including the challenging Esses sequence and high-speed sections like Degner and Spoon Curve. “I think some of the greatest aspects of this track might not be as great this year, simply because of the energy constraints,” he noted, adding that certain corners might become “power-limited” rather than “grip-limited,” potentially diminishing the driving challenge.
The true impact of these qualifying changes will only become apparent once drivers take to the track for the session. The modification serves as a stepping stone toward the comprehensive 2026 technical regulations, as Formula 1 continues to evolve its approach to balancing competition and spectacle in the sport’s premier qualifying format.