LONDON : Formula One teams and stakeholders agreed unanimously on Monday to introduce engine rule adjustments from the next race in Miami on May 3, following driver concerns over safety and energy management.
The sport began a new era this season with hybrid power units delivering roughly equal contributions from electric and combustion sources, but drivers have complained about the need to “lift and coast” into high-speed corners to recharge batteries.
They have also highlighted issues with “super-clipping”, where energy is diverted from the engine to the battery, reducing power even at full throttle and creating speed differentials on track.
The FIA said after a meeting involving team principals, power unit manufacturers and Formula One that a series of in-season “refinements” had been agreed and would be put to a virtual vote.
“The proposals agreed today will be implemented from Miami, apart from the race start changes that will be tested in Miami and adopted following feedback and analysis,” the FIA said in a statement.
Four-times world champion Max Verstappen has been among those to raise concerns, even questioning his long-term future in the sport.
Toto Wolff, team boss of Mercedes, said earlier that any changes should be made carefully.
“Changes need to be made with a scalpel and not with a baseball bat,” Wolff said, urging caution while defending the quality of racing so far this season.
