As Formula 1\u2019s power unit manufacturers weigh in on the new engine formula ahead of Thursday\u2019s PUAC meeting, Toto Wolff says the circumstances that led to Oliver Bearman\u2019s crash aren\u2019t the only cause for concern.<\/p>\n
The drivers are also finding that the \u201ctiniest of lifts\u201d can cause an unpredictable reaction from the engine.<\/p>\n
Toto Wolff highlights F1 engine safety concerns after Oliver Bearman crash<\/p>\n
Want more PlanetF1.com coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google<\/a> to your favourites list for news you can trust<\/p>\n This season, Formula 1 introduced a new engine formula, running power units that are run on a 50\/50 electrical and combustion split.<\/p>\n While it has heavily divided the paddock between those who are enjoying the back-and-forth battery-dependent battles and those who feel it is more \u2018Mario Kart\u2019 than F1, almost everyone has raised concerns about safety.<\/p>\n The new engines require the drivers to harvest battery power, a task often done at the end of a straight. And if the driver behind isn\u2019t needing to super clip or recharge his battery, the closing speeds are immense \u2013 and dangerous.<\/p>\n Oliver Bearman discovered this at the Japanese Grand Prix when he closed it on Franco Colapinto into Spoon Curve, travelling 50kph faster than the Alpine driver.<\/p>\n Caught unaware, Bearman had to take avoiding action, and went onto the grass, crossed the track and ploughed into the barrier with the impact recorded at 50G.<\/p>\n He limped away from his crashed Haas, but thankfully had suffered nothing more than a contusion to his right knee.<\/p>\n F1 2026: The drivers and calendar<\/p>\n The F1 2026 Drivers\u2019 and Constructors\u2019 Championship standings<\/a><\/p>\n F1 schedule: When is the next F1 race and where is it being held?<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s something which we need to look at clearly, what\u2019s happened,\u201d Wolff told the media in Japan.<\/p>\n \u201cRegulations are in a very immature way. And I\u2019m sure the FIA and our teams, we\u2019re gonna analyse the accident very carefully to see how we can avoid these things.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sure there\u2019s more competent people than me already in Mercedes scratching their heads how to avoid that.\u201d<\/p>\n That, though, isn\u2019t the only issue.<\/p>\n The drivers also complained in Suzuka about how unpredictable their cars were when they had to lift slightly.<\/p>\n The Mercedes<\/a> team principal says that is also something the FIA and teams will need to take a look at.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is something we should be working at, to make it a little bit less sensitive,\u201d he said. \u201cThat the tiniest of lifts causes an unpredictable situation.<\/p>\n \u201cNow it was for me, maybe one or the other statements were over exaggerated. Some people got it right, some people got it wrong.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd if you deploy tons of energy in the first sector, you shouldn\u2019t be surprised that in the last you\u2019re running out of it.<\/p>\n \u201cBut clearly, another aspect that we need to look at, how to make this, how to optimise the systems to reduce the unpredictability.\u201d<\/p>\n Want to be the first to know exclusive information from the F1 paddock? Join our broadcast channel on WhatsApp<\/a> to get the scoop on the latest developments from our team of accredited journalists.<\/p>\n You can also subscribe to the PlanetF1 YouTube channel<\/a> for exclusive features, hear from our paddock journalists with stories from the heart of Formula 1 and much more!<\/p>\n