Oscar Piastri says Formula 1\u2019s engine management tweaks have not fixed all the problems after George Russell\u2019s \u201cpretty crazy\u201d closing speed at the Miami Grand Prix.<\/p>\n
Qualifying, though, was a \u201cbit\u201d better with the harvesting limit reduced.<\/p>\n
\u2018Pretty crazy\u2019: Piastri stunned as Russell blasts past in Miami<\/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 Three races into the F1 2026 season with its new engine formula, the FIA, FOM, the team principals and the engine manufacturers agreed to tweak the energy management rules after speaking to the drivers.<\/p>\n The decision came on the back of continued complaints from the drivers about battery harvesting and super clipping ruining the experience, while safety also factored after Oliver Bearman ploughed into the barriers in Japan having misjudged his closing speed on Franco Colapinto.<\/p>\n The FIA announced that for qualifying, the maximum permitted recharge would be reduced from 8 MJ to 7 MJ, which would lessen the need for battery harvesting.<\/p>\n For the grands prix, the maximum power available during boost mode was capped at 150kW, while MGU-K deployment was limited to 250kW in some parts of the lap.<\/p>\n Piastri<\/a> said that while the changes were noticeable in qualifying, they did nothing in the grand prix.<\/p>\n Analysis from Miami: Conclusions and Ratings<\/p>\n Miami GP conclusions: Antonelli insecurity, Verstappen impatience, F1\u2019s TV fail<\/a><\/p>\n Miami Grand Prix driver ratings: Kimi Antonelli leads chaotic race weekend<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cI think reducing the harvest limit in qualifying has helped a bit. It\u2019s not fixed the problem or all the problems, but it\u2019s helping with one,\u201d he told PlanetF1.com and other media in Miami.<\/p>\n \u201cThe races are basically exactly the same, and I think today was my first proper experience of overtaking people and then having to defend and stuff like that.\u201d<\/p>\n The McLaren driver, who finished the grand prix in third place, was shocked by the closing speed of the current cars when Straight Line Mode and Boost Mode are activated.<\/p>\n That, he says, shaved a second off his advantage over George Russell in an instant with the Mercedes driver blasting past him.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s pretty crazy, to be honest,\u201d he continued.<\/p>\n \u201cAt one point George was one second behind me and managed to overtake me by the end of that straight.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s just a bit random. The closing speeds are huge and trying to anticipate that as the defending driver is incredibly tough to do.<\/p>\n \u201cObviously for the overtaking driver, I wasn\u2019t that pleased with one of the moves that George did, but I kind of found myself almost doing the same move about five laps later, just because the closing speed is enormous.<\/p>\n \u201cSo from that side of things, not much has really changed.\u201d<\/p>\n Piastri reckons that without changing the engine formula, which cannot happen until 2031 although the FIA is pushing for V8s in 2030, not much will change.<\/p>\n \u201cI think the collaboration again from the FIA and F1 has been good, but there are only so many things you can change with the hardware we have,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cSo some changes in the future are still needed for sure. How quickly we can do it is the big question.\u201d<\/p>\n Additional reporting by Thomas Maher<\/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