Oscar Piastri Urges Rapid FIA Intervention Following ‘Close Call’ With 2026 Power Unit Speed Deltas

Oscar Piastri urges the FIA to fix 2026 speed delta risks after a "close call" with Nico Hulkenberg and Oliver Bearman’s 50G crash at the Japanese Grand Prix.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 6, 2026, 4:35 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from PlanetF1

The Dangerous Delta of Energy Deployment

The 2026 Japanese Grand Prix has exposed a critical safety flaw in the current technical regulations: the extreme closing speeds between cars in different states of energy management. Oscar Piastri, who secured a second-place finish at Suzuka, revealed that even during Free Practice 3, he was caught off guard by the velocity of a rival. According to Piastri, Nico Hulkenberg’s Audi closed the gap on the approach to the 130R corner "three times quicker" than anticipated, despite both drivers being at full throttle. This incident resulted in an official FIA warning for Piastri for impeding, though the driver maintains the closing speed was the primary factor.

A Warning Ignored Since the Concept Phase

Piastri’s comments echo a growing sentiment among the elite drivers that the current "anti-racing" dynamics were predictable. The McLaren driver noted that the F1 community has discussed the possibility of a "Bearman-type accident" since the 2026 power units were first conceptualized. The 50/50 split between internal combustion and electrification forces some cars into a "harvesting" mode while others utilize a "mushroom boost," creating speed differences that Max Verstappen recently estimated at 50 to 60 kilometers per hour.

The Mechanics of the Bearman Accident

The urgency of Piastri’s plea is underscored by the details of Oliver Bearman’s qualifying crash at Spoon Curve. Bearman was closing rapidly on Franco Colapinto’s Alpine when the massive speed advantage forced him into a split-second avoiding maneuver. Piastri pointed out a specific concern: Colapinto’s car reportedly did not have a flashing rear light to indicate energy harvesting, meaning Bearman had no visual cue that the car ahead was significantly slower. This lack of communication between the car's energy state and the following driver is a "bit of a concern" for the safety of the grid.