F1 approves rule changes to curb energy harvesting under 2026 engine regulations

Formula 1 moved quickly to tame the rough edges of its 2026 engine era, approving changes designed to curb excessive energy harvesting, steady performance and reduce start-line risk after the first three races exposed early technical strains.

The refinements were agreed on April 20, 2026, in an online meeting with the FIA, team principals, CEOs of power unit manufacturers and Formula One Management. They will come into force from the Miami Grand Prix weekend, with the race-start changes first tested in Miami before being adopted after review. The proposals were shaped by data from Australia, China and Japan, along with pre-season testing in Barcelona and Bahrain and input from F1 drivers.

At the center of the package is a push to stop qualifying from turning into an energy-management contest. The maximum permitted recharge in qualifying will fall from 8MJ to 7MJ, a change aimed at shortening the so-called superclip period to roughly two to four seconds per lap and encouraging more flat-out running. Peak superclip power will rise from 250 kW to 350 kW, and that same higher ceiling will apply in race conditions. Formula 1 also expanded the number of events where alternative lower energy limits may be used from eight to 12, giving the sport more room to adapt to different circuit layouts.

In race trim, the FIA has capped boost power at +150 kW, or the car’s current power level at activation if higher, to limit sudden performance swings. MGU-K deployment will stay at 350 kW in key acceleration zones, including overtaking areas, but will be limited to 250 kW elsewhere on the lap. The governing body said the aim is to reduce excessive closing speeds without stripping away passing chances or the performance profile that the new cars are supposed to deliver.

Safety at the start was another concern. A new low-power start detection system will identify cars that accelerate abnormally slowly after clutch release and automatically trigger MGU-K deployment to ensure a minimum level of acceleration. Rear and lateral warning lights will flash to alert following drivers. The FIA said the start procedure will be tested in Miami before the system is rolled out more broadly.

The fixes suggest Formula 1 is already recalibrating a regulation set the FIA has described as one of the biggest changes in recent memory. The 2026 power unit era is meant to produce lighter cars, more battery power, active aerodynamics and 100% sustainable fuel, while making the championship more road relevant, more attractive to new manufacturers and better for wheel-to-wheel racing. Formula 1 says the field will feature five power unit manufacturers in 2026: Mercedes, Ferrari, Red Bull Ford Powertrains, Honda and Audi. That level of commitment shows the new rules have drawn serious investment, but the Miami revisions also show how quickly the sport is willing to rewrite its own blueprint when the balance between competition, efficiency and spectacle looks off.