F1 Grid Delivers Mixed Verdict on Mid-Season 2026 Energy Recovery Rule Tweaks

Max Verstappen, Lando Norris, and Lewis Hamilton give their verdict on the new F1 2026 energy rules. See why some call it a "tickle" and others a safety win.

By: AXL Media

Published: May 1, 2026, 3:33 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from PlanetF1

The Push for Flat-Out Qualifying

The 2026 Formula 1 season has seen a significant shift in how drivers approach a single flying lap, with early races characterized by heavy manual energy management. Ahead of the Miami Grand Prix, Lando Norris expressed optimism that the latest regulatory tweaks would finally allow drivers to attack qualifying in a more traditional sense. By adjusting battery capacity and automating the launch of qualifying laps, the FIA aims to remove the need for drivers to stare at their dashboards to manage throttle percentages. Norris noted that while the racing experience might remain similar, the ability to drive "flat-out" during Saturday sessions is exactly what the drivers had collectively requested.

Safety Concerns and Closing Speeds

A primary driver for these mid-season changes was the dangerous speed differentials observed between cars on different energy cycles. George Russell highlighted that the new rules are specifically designed to eliminate the massive closing speeds that led to near-misses and incidents in the opening rounds. Under the previous software maps, cars harvesting energy would "clip" or lose power abruptly at the end of straights, creating a hazard for those behind on a hot lap. Russell believes that the updated "Boost Mode" logic will prevent such dangerous disparities, marking a significant win for driver safety across the 22-car grid.

Verstappen and the "Tickle" of Change

Despite the official consensus, World Champion Max Verstappen provided a more blunt assessment, describing the tweaks as a mere "tickle" rather than a comprehensive fix. Verstappen argued that while the changes move in the right direction, they are not yet enough to allow for truly unrestricted racing. He emphasized the difficulty of getting all teams to agree on major mid-season shifts but expressed hope that 2027 might bring the "really big changes" necessary to return the sport to its mechanical roots. For Verstappen, the current hybrid-heavy era still places too much emphasis on energy recovery over pure driving instinct.