FIA announce TWELVE rule changes to F1 just three races into the season after Max Verstappen quit threat
THE FIA have announced TWELVE rule changes just three races into the new Formula One season.
The sport’s governing body made a major overhaul in the off-season to bring in a raft of updated laws, largely around new engines.
Mercedes have made a lightning start with George Russell taking the first chequered flag before back-to-back victories for teen Kimi Antonelli.
But four-time world champ Max Verstappen continues to make no secret of his dissatisfaction at the adjustments and even threatened to quit F1 in protest.
However, the FIA responded by confirming a swathe of “refinements to the regulations” on Monday.
The refresh was proposed following a meeting between the FIA, team principals, CEOs of power unit manufacturers and Formula One Management.
Drivers were also consulted prior to the changes coming into effect, which will happen after an e-vote before the Miami Grand Prix on May 3.
That is the fourth race of the season – coming five weeks after the third – following the cancellation of Grands Prix in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
And the FIA took advantage of the unexpected break to draft up the revisions.
The 12 changes are split into four main areas: qualifying, races, wet conditions and starts.
The qualifying edits are focused on “reducing harvesting and encouraging more consistent flat-out driving” rather than having drivers coasting and super-clipping.
The in-race changes centre around sudden speed changes at different deployment levels are not dangerous, especially after Oliver Bearman’s scary crash at Suzuka.
There were concerns over the sheer power of the new engines and the updated rules allow warmer tyre blankets to “improve initial grip and tyre performance in wet conditions” as well as a “simplification” of rear light systems.
A new “low-power start detection system” will be trialled in Miami as part of the changes to the lights-out procedure which has become more difficult and hazardous.
Should the start changes be successful, they will likely get pushed through and ratified.
12 new FIA F1 rules in full
There are 12 specific rule changes (or refinements) outlined by the FIA, categorised into four different areas: qualifying, races, starts and wet conditions.
Qualifying – promoting performance
- Adjustments to energy management parameters, including a reduction in maximum permitted recharge from 8MJ to 7MJ, aimed at reducing excessive harvesting and encouraging more consistent flat-out driving. This change targets a maximum superclip duration reduced to approximately 2-4 seconds per lap.
- Peak superclip power increased to 350 kW, previously being 250kW, further reducing the time spent recharging, and reducing driver workload on energy management. This will also be applied in Race conditions.
- The number of events where alternative lower energy limits may apply has been increased from 8 to 12 races, allowing greater adaptation to circuit characteristics.
Race – improved safety and consistency of performance
- The maximum power available through the Boost in race conditions is now capped at +150 kW (or the car’s current power level at activation if higher) limiting sudden performance differentials.
- MGU-K deployment is maintained at 350 kW in key acceleration zones (from corner exit to braking point, including overtaking zones) but will be limited to 250 kW in other parts of the lap.
- These measures are designed to reduce excessive closing speeds while maintaining overtaking opportunities and overall performance characteristics.
Race starts – enhanced safety mechanisms
- A new “low power start detection” system has been developed, capable of identifying cars with abnormally low acceleration shortly after clutch release. In such cases, an automatic MGU-K deployment will be triggered to ensure a minimum level of acceleration and mitigate start-related risks without introducing any sporting advantage.
- An associated visual warning system is being introduced, activating flashing lights (rear and lateral) on affected cars to alert following drivers.
- A reset of the energy counter at the start of the formation lap has also been implemented to correct a previously identified system inconsistency.
Wet conditions – improving safety and visibility
- Tyre blanket temperatures for intermediate tyres have been increased following driver feedback in order to improve initial grip and tyre performance in wet conditions.
- Maximum ERS deployment will be reduced, limiting torque and improving car control in low-grip conditions.
- The rear light systems have been simplified, with clearer and more consistent visual cues to improve visibility and reaction time for following drivers in poor conditions.
FIA, 20/04/2026
