{"id":413032,"date":"2026-05-05T15:10:19","date_gmt":"2026-05-05T15:10:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/413032\/"},"modified":"2026-05-05T15:10:19","modified_gmt":"2026-05-05T15:10:19","slug":"oscar-piastri-delivers-harsh-verdict-on-controversial-f1-rule-change","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/413032\/","title":{"rendered":"Oscar Piastri delivers harsh verdict on controversial F1 rule change"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\u2018Not
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tOscar Piastri during the post-race press conference at the Miami Grand Prix. Image: XPB Images<\/p>\n

F1<\/a> made wholesale changes to its regulations this year \u2013 including a move to 50-50 power delivery between combustion and electric energy.<\/a><\/p>\n

The regulations have proved polarising, with fans and drivers bemused by the sudden momentum swings creating what some view as artificial racing.<\/a><\/p>\n

A variety of rule changes were agreed to before the Miami Grand Prix<\/a> between the FIA, FOM, teams and its engine suppliers.<\/p>\n

For qualifying, the maximum permitted recharge was reduced from eight megajoules to seven megajoules in a bid to reduce excessive harvesting and promote more consistent flat-out driving.<\/p>\n

For racing, the maximum power available during boost mode was capped at 150kW, or the car\u2019s current power level at activation if higher.<\/p>\n

MGU-K deployment was limited to 250kW in some parts of the lap while key acceleration zones were maintained at 350kW.<\/p>\n

Those changes were made with the primary intent to limit sudden swings in performance differential between cars and reduce excessive closing speeds.<\/p>\n

Speaking after finishing third in the Miami Grand Prix, Piastri said those improvements had been noticeable but were not enough.<\/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 said Piastri.<\/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

\"Oscar<\/p>\n

Oscar Piastri during the Miami Grand Prix. Image: Dunbar\/XPB Images<\/p>\n

Closing speed from one car to the next has been a hot topic in the wake of Oliver Bearman\u2019s enormous crash at the Japanese Grand Prix.<\/p>\n

The Haas driver was forced to swerve off the track to avoid the slowing Alpine of Franco Colapinto, which speared the young Brit into a wall at high speed.<\/p>\n

Piastri explained that excessive closing speeds while attacking and defending remain an issue in-race, and that is a feeling shared by many drivers.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s pretty crazy, to be honest,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt one point George [Russell] 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.<\/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.<\/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

\"Kimi<\/p>\n

Kimi Antonelli (left) and Charles Leclerc jockey over position with Lando Norris behind them during the Miami Grand Prix. Image: XPB Images\/Dunbar<\/p>\n

Miami race winner Kimi Antonelli echoed that sentiment.\u00a0He was embroiled in a battle with Ferrari\u2019s Charles Leclerc in the opening stanza of the race that saw them trade places several times over.<\/p>\n

\u201cRaces, the closing speed, as I said, is massive,\u201d said the Mercedes driver.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd you also need to trust the guy who is defending because also with this active aero, the car is pretty lazy when you want to change direction, so you need to think in advance.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou need to trust as well the driver who is defending. But it was a small step in the right direction and let\u2019s see what\u2019s going to happen next.\u201d<\/p>\n

F1 champion Lando Norris said the changes did not go far enough but conceded it would be years before any meaningful changes were possible.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a small step in the right direction, but it\u2019s not to the level that Formula 1 should still be at yet,\u201d said Norris.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think we said yesterday still in qualifying, if you go flat out everywhere and you try pushing like you were in previous years, you still just get penalised for it.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou still can\u2019t be flat out everywhere. It\u2019s not about being on as early on throttle everywhere.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou should never get penalised for that kind of thing and you still do. So honestly, I don\u2019t really think you can fix that. You just have to get rid of the battery.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo hopefully in a few years, that\u2019s the case.\u201d<\/p>\n

F1 will get its next opportunity to witness the revised regulations in action at the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal on May 23-25.<\/p>\n


\"\"\/
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