FIA to review F1 energy management rules after Chinese GP
The FIA’s Nikolas Tombazis has confirmed that Formula 1 energy management regulations will be reviewed with the teams following the next race of the season.
The Australian Grand Prix highlighted the fine balance required for maximum energy efficiency to translate into lap time, and adjustments to the systems could be made after the Chinese Grand Prix.
“The Australian Grand Prix illustrated the realities of the delicacy required to get the most out of the power units,” Tombazis said.
Energy Management Challenges in Melbourne
The season-opening race was the first under the all-new chassis and power unit regulations. While lap times remain close to last year—showing that the aerodynamic and chassis changes are largely successful—the techniques required to unlock the power unit’s full potential left many drivers frustrated.
One of the main issues is the difficulty in recharging batteries and maintaining energy flow. As a result, top speeds on the straights can drop as the batteries deplete.
A key factor is ‘super clipping’, where the batteries siphon energy from the internal combustion engine rather than delivering it directly to the rear wheels. This occurs automatically through engine mapping, even while the driver remains at full throttle, causing certain high-speed sections—like Turns 9 and 10 in Melbourne—to be approached at lower velocities than usual.
Additionally, the new energy recovery rules mean late braking no longer offers a clear advantage. Drivers who brake earlier can recoup more energy for the next straight, changing overtaking and racing strategies.
Despite these challenges, the Australian GP produced around 120 overtakes, a significant increase from 2025, though many of these moves were influenced by energy cycling rather than pure on-track speed.
F1 energy management under review after Australian GP frustrations
During the Australian Grand Prix, energy management proved pivotal in shaping on-track battles, with drivers frequently overtaking each other based on battery levels rather than raw speed. For example, George Russell and Charles Leclerc swapped the lead multiple times using the boost button when the other was low on energy or in harvesting mode.
Several drivers, including Leclerc, described the racing as somewhat artificial, prompting discussions on potential adjustments in the coming weeks.
While power units are homologated and their peak potential cannot be changed, the FIA is considering tweaks such as reducing peak energy output—giving less power at corner exits but sustaining it longer down straights—or increasing the rate of ‘super clipping’ harvesting from 250kW to 350kW. This would provide more energy to the driver but reduce rear-wheel power during super clip phases.
McLaren tested a 350kW super clip during pre-season in Bahrain, though Oscar Piastri remained unconvinced.
“The only difference is that one of them, you’re actually off throttle and in control of it, and the other one, you’re at full throttle. I’m not sure it’s any more optimal,” he said.
“I think it will probably improve a bit, but there are clearly some fundamental things that won’t be easy to fix.”
FIA single-seater director Nikolas Tombazis explained that no immediate changes would be made, but the situation will be reassessed after the Chinese Grand Prix:
“We had a meeting with the teams after Bahrain testing to review the matter. The teams agreed to stick with the current arrangements for the first few races and review the situation when we have more data. Our intention is to review energy management after China. We have a few solutions we didn’t want to introduce as knee-jerk reactions ahead of the first race.”
The Chinese Grand Prix takes place on March 15, followed by the Japanese GP at Suzuka, potentially giving teams time to implement changes before the season progresses.
Driver Frustrations
Reigning world champion Lando Norris criticized the new rules as creating the “worst cars ever,” highlighting dangerous speed differentials and artificial racing dynamics:
“[It’s] way too much. It’s chaos. There’s gonna be a big accident… You just get overtaken by five cars, and you can do nothing about it sometimes.”
Max Verstappen, who was vocal during pre-season testing, reiterated his stance:
“I’m not having fun with the new regulations… I care about racing, and I want it to be better than this. I hope we can come up with solutions this year to make it more enjoyable. We are critical for a reason—we want Formula 1 proper, F1 on steroids. Today, that was not the case.”
Despite the frustrations, the season continues, with the FIA set to review energy rules and drivers hopeful for adjustments to restore the excitement and competitiveness F1 fans expect.