The FIA has confirmed that Formula 1 teams rejected a proposal last year to significantly reduce electrical power deployment for the 2026 season, opting instead to retain the higher power levels that have created unexpected challenges in the opening races.
FIA single-seater director Nikolas Tombazis revealed that the governing body proposed cutting electrical energy deployment to 200kW in 2025, roughly half the planned 350kW of electrical power under the new regulations. Teams voted against the reduction, choosing to maintain the higher electric component that forms a key part of the 2026 power unit philosophy.
That decision has led to complications now that the season is underway. The 2026 cars have proven quicker than anticipated, finding more downforce than FIA simulations predicted. The consequence: lower energy recovery during braking, which has intensified the energy management challenge drivers face and increased lift-and-coast behaviour on track.
Miami Brings Fresh Regulatory Tweaks
Following evaluations after the first three rounds of the 2026 season, the FIA implemented several changes to the regulations, set to come into effect at the Miami Grand Prix this weekend. The most significant adjustment increases peak super clipping capabilities from 250kW to 350kW, designed to reduce the time drivers spend charging the power unit while at full throttle.
The governing body also reduced maximum energy generating capabilities per lap, a move aimed at discouraging excessive lift-and-coast and promoting what Tombazis described as a more natural driving style.
“First of all, it is true that when you have a percentage of electrical to internal combustion energy and power of that ratio, that the whole energy management becomes more challenging,” Tombazis said. “We knew that from day one of these regulations, and I think we’ve worked to mitigate a lot of these compromises.”
Faster Cars Create Unforeseen Complications
The core issue stems from the cars’ performance exceeding FIA projections. Higher speeds and greater downforce levels mean drivers brake later and less aggressively, reducing the opportunity to harvest kinetic energy through regenerative braking systems. With the 2026 regulations mandating roughly 50% electric power contribution, that energy shortfall forces drivers into more aggressive energy management strategies.
“One of the reasons it hasn’t been right there from the start, is that the cars are going a bit faster, have found a bit more downforce than we were expecting, and therefore their energy recovered during braking is a bit lower than it would normally be, so we have a bit more of a challenge than we would have liked to have,” Tombazis explained.
The rejected 200kW proposal would have shifted the power balance back toward the internal combustion engine, reducing the electrical component’s influence and easing energy management demands. Teams evidently preferred to preserve the higher electrical output, despite the operational complexity it introduces.
Further Changes Remain on the Table
Tombazis made clear that the Miami updates represent evolution rather than wholesale revolution, and the FIA has not closed the door on additional modifications as the season progresses.
“We did propose the reduction of power about a year ago, and it was rejected. The point there was that we were going to wait for the first few races, which is what we did,” he said. “Now, is that the final time we talk about it? I don’t think so. We will continue monitoring whether there will be extra additions that would have to be further discussed.”
Any future changes would require broader consensus and could not be implemented on safety grounds alone. The FIA opted to introduce the Miami package first, allowing teams and officials to assess its impact before considering further intervention.
“That is not something we could do on the base of safety, and certainly wasn’t something we could do for Miami or for this year. So therefore, we decided to just have a bit of a look-see, to see the current changes, how they’ve coped, and then to review the matter,” Tombazis added.
The Miami Grand Prix weekend will provide the first competitive test of the updated regulations, with particular focus on whether the increased super clipping capability and reduced energy generation limits deliver the more aggressive, less management-heavy racing the FIA intended when it designed the 2026 formula.