The FIA will review 2026’s new power deployment rules after Oliver Bearman’s 50G crash in Japan, prompted by drivers’ warnings over dangerous speed differentials.
FORMULA 1’s governing body, the FIA, has reiterated its commitment to review the sport’s new technical regulations following Oliver Bearman’s high-speed crash at the Japanese Grand Prix.
“It has been the consistent position of all stakeholders that a structured review would take place after the opening phase of the season, to allow for sufficient data to be gathered and analysed,” the FIA stated after Sunday’s race.
The 2026 rules allow drivers to charge their car’s battery under braking and deploy that stored power at will to boost top speed for overtaking.
Several drivers had previously warned about the dangerous differences in top speed this system can create between cars on track.
Bearman endured a 50G impact after swerving to avoid the slowing Alpine of Franco Colapinto, which had suddenly run out of deployable power.
The Haas driver approached Colapinto at a closing speed estimated to be 50 kilometres per hour faster before hitting the wall and escaping with only knee bruises.
Grand Prix Drivers’ Association director Carlos Sainz stressed this incident was precisely what drivers had warned the FIA about.
“That’s the problem when you listen only to the teams, that they will think the racing is OK because maybe they’re having fun watching it on the TV,” the Williams driver said.
Four-time world champion Max Verstappen, a sharp critic of the new rules, added that such scenarios create massive speed differentials.
“That’s what you get with these things, one guy is completely stuck with no power, basically, and then the other one uses the mushroom mode (the power boost mode), and then it can be 50, 60 kph difference,” Verstappen explained.
The cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian races means the next Grand Prix is not until May 3 in Miami, giving the FIA time to consider potential changes.
