F1 Commission finds ‘no immediate major changes required’ over regulation debate

Henry Valantine 18 Feb 2026 2:14 PM

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The latest meeting of the F1 Commission has found that “no immediate major regulatory changes were required” to the F1 2026 regulations after initial feedback from teams.

Discussions have taken place separately regarding the new power units and, in particular, Mercedes’ use of a compression ratio grey area that sees it accused by rivals of operating above the prescribed limit at operating temperature, though the team has stressed its legality throughout.

F1 Commission finds ‘no immediate major regulatory changes required’

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The F1 Commission met to discuss an array of topics, with the start procedure, lift and coast, and overtaking all flagged as areas in need of attention.

“We need to make sure that the race start procedure allows all cars to have the power unit ready to go, because the grid is not the place in which you want to have cars slow in taking off the grid,” said McLaren team boss Andrea Stella.

“This is a bigger interest than any competitive interest. So I think all teams and the FIA should play the game of responsibility when it comes to what is needed in terms of race start procedure.

“I’m thinking about the timings, for instance, the timing of the lights, the timing before the lights, they need to be in the right place to make sure that, first of all, that’s a safe phase of the way we go racing.”

He also flagged the potential speed differential when cars use lift and coast and the potential for cars to make nose-to-tail contact in dramatic fashion.

However, the F1 Commission resisted the urge to make rash changes based on the evidence of the opening test in Bahrain – and that in Barcelona which preceded it – in favour of a watching brief.

“Further evaluation and technical checks on energy management matters will be carried out over the following three days at the second pre-season test in Bahrain,” wrote the F1 Commission.

“It was agreed that no immediate major regulatory changes were required given that initial evidence and feedback remains immature and that premature change carried the risk of increased instability ahead of the first race. Further reviews will be carried out once more data becomes available.

“There were constructive talks and proposals centred on the race start procedure during the commission meeting.

“As a result, further evaluation of updates to race systems and on-car management will be undertaken during the current Bahrain test.”

More from F1 testing in Bahrain

Aston Martin running interrupted by fresh Honda PU concern in Bahrain

Audi F1 team principal weighs in ahead of compression ratio showdown

The FIA confirmed separately that a proposal for a new test surrounding compression ratio measurement has been tabled, for potentially being introduced mid-season on August 1. This would measure the compression ratio at 16:1 at a 130°C operating temperature, when the test had previously been at ambient temperature – with an e-vote set to take place on the matter.

Alongside that, further reviews will take place on previous regulatory talking points when the FIA has enough data to make more informed decisions.

Testing continues in Bahrain until Friday 20 February, which marks the last pre-season running until the season-opening Australian Grand Prix in early March.

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