Source:REUTERS/Issei Kato
[Saba Sports News] After the controversy kept growing, the FIA finally revised the energy management rules for the 2026 season, making a temporary change before the Japanese Grand Prix in an attempt to return the racing to a purer speed contest. Under the latest decision, the maximum recoverable energy per lap in qualifying will be reduced from 9 MJ to 8 MJ. The change may seem minor, but it directly targets the most controversial energy-harvesting driving techniques—such as coasting with the throttle lifted and downshifting at full throttle to recharge. In the new regulations era, energy management has become a key factor in single-lap performance. Drivers have had to deliberately lift off on straights, and in some cases have seen strange speed drops even at full throttle because the system diverts power. These driving methods are not only evident in the data but have also sparked widespread criticism. Max Verstappen has said this way of racing is not pure enough, and Oscar Piastri has bluntly stated that it doesn’t feel like racing. In response to feedback from drivers and teams, the FIA chose to make the first targeted correction during the Suzuka weekend.
The editor believes that, in practical terms, this adjustment should allow Suzuka’s high-speed character to be expressed more fully, enabling drivers to push more aggressively through key sections without having to worry so much about energy-allocation strategies.