The FIA has confirmed that a proposal to reduce electrical power in Formula 1’s controversial 2026 power units was rejected approximately one year ago, as revealed by single-seater director Nikolas Tombazis ahead of the Miami Grand Prix. The governing body had suggested cutting power levels to address mounting concerns over energy management complexities and superclipping issues that have plagued the new hybrid regulations.
Technical modifications have been implemented for the Miami GP weekend, including an increase in the superclipping limit from 250kW to 350kW, allowing drivers to operate at full throttle for longer periods rather than focusing on battery charging. The changes aim to address the problematic 50:50 split between electrical and internal combustion energy that Tombazis acknowledged has created more challenges than originally anticipated.
Tombazis explained that the energy management difficulties were recognized from the outset of the 2026 regulations development. “We knew that from day one of these regulations, and I think we’ve worked to mitigate a lot of these compromises,” he stated. The FIA official noted that cars are performing faster than expected and generating more downforce, resulting in lower energy recovery during braking than projected.
The power reduction proposal was designed to lessen reliance on energy deployment strategies, but all parties involved rejected the suggestion. Tombazis indicated this would not be the final discussion on the matter, stating the FIA will continue monitoring the situation and may consider additional modifications based on data from the initial races under the new technical package.
The governing body emphasized that any power cuts could not be implemented on safety grounds and were impossible to introduce for Miami or the current season. Instead, officials have opted for a cautious approach, observing how the current regulatory changes perform before reviewing potential future adjustments to the much-debated 2026 power unit specifications.