FIA and Formula 1 concluded a first in a series of meetings to tweak 2026 regulations

In a statement issued after the first technical meeting with teams and power unit manufacturers, the FIA outlined a structured process aimed at evaluating early data and addressing emerging concerns, particularly around energy management.

The governing body stated that the meeting “covered a raft of topics as part of the natural evolution of the 2026 F1 technical and sporting regulations,” with stakeholders engaging in what it described as “constructive dialogue on difficult topics especially when considering the competitive nature of the stakeholders.”

Central to the discussions was a shared willingness to refine aspects of the current package, despite the FIA maintaining that “the events to date have provided exciting racing”, indicating the sport's management and the governing body are still in denial.

The statement confirmed: “There was a commitment to making tweaks to some aspects of the regulations in the area of energy management.”

This comes after widespread scrutiny of the 2026 power unit characteristics, particularly the balance between deployment and harvesting, which has been a defining theme of the opening rounds.

In an effort to show the meeting was not a reaction to backlash at the current regulations, the statement insisted the timing of the meeting was pre-planned.

The FIA noted: “It was agreed earlier in the year by all parties that this sequence of meetings would take place following the first three races of the 2026 Formula 1 season. The scheduling was timed so that sufficient technical data could be gathered in advance of any discussions.”

A series of follow-up meetings has now been scheduled to accelerate the process. A Sporting Regulations meeting will take place on April 15, focusing on potential changes to Section B to support any technical adjustments.

This will be followed by a further technical session on April 16, where “points discussed today will be followed up and new topics will be given exposure.”

The process will culminate in a high-level summit on April 20 involving all stakeholders, where the FIA expects “preferred options jointly proposed by the technical teams will be considered and a consensus sought on the way forward.”

Final approval for any regulatory changes will remain subject to the FIA World Motor Sport Council process.

The FIA reiterated that the 2026 regulations were originally developed through collective agreement across the sport’s key stakeholders, including teams, manufacturers, the commercial rights holder, and the governing body itself.

Reinforcing that position, the statement concluded: “It is in this spirit of collaboration that potential changes are being discussed.”

With multiple meetings scheduled over the coming days, the direction of the 2026 Formula 1 regulations now appears set for its first significant evolution, driven by early-season data and growing technical debate across the paddock.

However, it remains to be seen whether these changes will have any significant impact on the quality of racing given how little can be changed in comparison to how deep the problem is since the basic concept of the 2026 formula is massively flawed. (Reporting by Agnes Carlier)