{"id":625221,"date":"2026-04-23T07:14:09","date_gmt":"2026-04-23T07:14:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/625221\/"},"modified":"2026-04-23T07:14:09","modified_gmt":"2026-04-23T07:14:09","slug":"revised-2026-f1-rules-will-not-fundamentally-change-the-picture-tombazis-racefans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/625221\/","title":{"rendered":"Revised 2026 F1 rules will \u201cnot fundamentally change the picture\u201d \u2013 Tombazis \u2013 RaceFans"},"content":{"rendered":"

Formula 1 fans should not expect to see significant different racing as a result of the rules changes announced this week, according to the FIA\u2019s single-seater director.<\/p>\n

The series announced a package of changes to its widely-criticised 2026 regulations on Monday. They are largely targeted at making qualifying more of a challenge and improving safety by reducing the risk of dangerously high closing speeds between cars.<\/p>\n

However Nikolas Tombazis says the races are unlikely to change significantly. \u201cFans have by and large been enjoying the new regulations because they\u2019ve brought closer racing and I think first and foremost we expect that to continue,\u201d he said in a video released by the FIA.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe think that will be continuing and clearly as the regulations become more mature we expect some teams who are currently lagging behind to gradually catch up and have closer and closer racing as time goes by and as the months and years go by. So that we expect to stay.<\/p>\n

\u201cRegarding what we see at the track, these changes are not revolutionary. They\u2019re not going to fundamentally change the picture that you see. Qualifying will be more flat-out for the drivers. Maybe you will perceive that as you see in the camera shots from within the cockpit and you hear the tone of the power unit, for example, that\u2019s maybe one thing you\u2019re going to see.\u201d<\/p>\n

The FIA prioritised the two key areas drivers raised concerns about, said Tombazis. \u201cThe position of the drivers was quite uniform,\u201d he explained. \u201cThey were all pushing for some changes in qualifying in order to, let\u2019s say, enjoy more the driving, push more, but also they were pushing for us to address certain safety concerns they had, so they were quite united and their input in this was very important.\u201d<\/p>\n

As the season has already started, the FIA could only change the technical regulations with the agreement of teams. However Tombazis acknowledged they had the power \u2013 and responsibility \u2013 to make any changes they wished on safety grounds.<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe, of course, have a very established process whereby the FIA together with the teams or the [power unit] manufacturers discuss these changes in various meetings and discuss how to improve everything, how to improve the sport,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cClearly when the regulations are new, like we have in 2026, that\u2019s a slightly more intense process of discussion than maybe when the regulations had a few years of maturity.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a government process to approve regulations. The FIA cannot unilaterally change regulations. They need to have a vote involving either the Formula 1 teams or the power unit manufacturers who \u2013 let\u2019s not forget \u2013 spend millions and millions in the sport and therefore have a right to have a word.<\/p>\n

\u201cSafety is something we can\u2019t compromise. Safety is something that, through the governance, the FIA has the right or even the responsibility to act even unilaterally. So any safety measures we of course discuss with everybody in order to hear the good views of very experienced people but ultimately we, FIA, can decide to take safety measures if we feel that\u2019s important.\u201d<\/p>\n

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