Formula One Management and the FIA are now set to hold off on making any changes to the 2026 F1 regulations following the Chinese Grand Prix, according to reports. The F1 stakeholders were set to review the first two races of the new season before making any changes, but it seems as though they have now decided against doing so.
The FIA and FOM had scheduled a post-Chinese GP review of the 2026 F1 regulations after concerns about potentially poor quality of racing were raised by teams after pre-season testing in Bahrain. It was decided that a few rule tweaks could have been fast tracked and introduced as early as the Japanese GP if the first two races were disappointing spectacles.
But The Race has now reported that the stakeholders are set to hold off on making any changes before the next round after reviewing the Australian and Chinese Grands Prix. They have reportedly gathered that both the first races and the sprint in China were great spectacles and that the regulations produced good racing.
It has also been reported that any changes, if deemed necessary, have been pushed back until at least Round 6 of the 2026 season, which is the Miami Grand Prix. The race in Florida is scheduled for May 3.
The stakeholders reportedly believe China showcased that the new regulations are not fundamentally flawed. The upcoming Japanese GP will also give a different reference to judge the new rules.
Following that, the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix have already been confirmed not to take place as scheduled in April due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. This effectively gives the stakeholders a month to review the regulations before the championship resumes in May.
Lewis Hamilton backs the 2026 F1 regulations after the Chinese GP
Lewis Hamilton has claimed that the 2026 F1 regulations are producing “the best racing” he has ever experienced in his F1 career. The Briton said the new cars are easy to follow and that they are much better than in previous years.
Speaking to the media after the Chinese GP, Hamilton lauded the new rules, saying:
“The cars are easier to follow, much better than past years. You can get very close. There’s not a bad wake where you’re losing too much downforce. I think it’s the best racing that I’ve ever experienced in Formula 1.”
This verdict is directly in contrast to his old rival, Max Verstappen, who relaunched a rant against the new rules after the Chinese GP. The Dutchman once again said that the new rules are simply not racing, and that anybody who says otherwise does not understand the sport.
Verstappen also claimed that he is speaking for the majority of the drivers on the current grid when criticizing the regulations. He also added that only a few drivers, who are “winning”, are praising the regulations because they do not want to lose their advantage over the field.
Edited by Mitali
