The FIA has approved a package of revisions to Formula 1’s 2026 technical regulations to be introduced from next week’s Miami Grand Prix, focusing on four areas: qualifying performance, race safety, start procedures and wet-weather visibility.
All changes are set to apply in Miami except the race start adjustments, which will be trialed during the Florida weekend before full adoption. The proposals now go to the World Motor Sport Council for an e-vote, a step that is typically a formality in such circumstances.
The move follows sustained criticism of F1’s new 2026 era, particularly from drivers who argued early on that the power unit rules left them unable to push flat-out as before. The FIA, team principals, Formula One Management and the CEOs of the five engine manufacturers met Monday and voted in favor of the measures.
The process has unfolded during a rare five-week gap on the calendar, created by the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix due to the ongoing Middle East conflict. F1 drivers provided "extensive input," in the discussions, according to an FIA statement.
Qualifying-specific tweaks aim to curb lift-and-coast and return sessions to flat-out running. The FIA said a reduction in the maximum permitted recharge level is "aimed at reducing excessive harvesting and encouraging more consistent flat-out driving," a change that also targets the widely criticized superclipping phenomenon, when energy harvesting slows the car despite the driver remaining at full throttle. The maximum duration of superclipping is currently around two to four seconds per lap.
To further reduce harvesting demands, the superclipping power threshold will increase from 250kW to 350kW, shortening recharge time and cutting lift-and-coast. These adjustments will apply in both qualifying and race conditions.
A return to flat-out qualifying had been among the priorities expressed by drivers, a point highlighted last week by Mercedes’ George Russell, who discussed the meetings in his capacity as a Grand Prix Drivers’ Association director.
Race rule changes are designed to improve safety by controlling speed differentials while preserving overtaking. The issue drew heightened scrutiny after Ollie Bearman suffered a 50G crash in Japan last month when a large speed delta emerged as he attempted to pass Franco Colapinto using Boost.
To address this, the FIA said the maximum power during a race when using Boost Mode will be restricted "to +150kW (or the car’s current power level at activation if higher)," helping reduce closing speeds. In addition, deployment of a car’s Motor Generator Unit Kinetic system will be "maintained at 350kW in key acceleration zones (from corner exit to braking point, including overtaking zones) but will be limited to 250kW in other parts of the lap," effectively concentrating peak power on the straights and other critical passing areas.
What happens next: the WMSC e-vote is expected to rubber-stamp the package in time for Miami. The weekend will provide the first read on whether the tweaks restore flat-out qualifying, moderate closing speeds in races, and improve drivability in changing conditions, with further feedback likely to shape final start-procedure implementations.
---
*Originally published on [Formula One News](https://newsformula.one/article/fia-teams-back-2026-f1-rule-tweaks-for-miami-as-wmsc-vote-nears). Visit for full coverage.*
