F1 2026 Miami Grand Prix: FIA close engine loophole

An FIA flag edited on a backdrop of a neon blue Miami palm tree — Photo: © IMAGO

Miami Grand Prix

FIA close F1 engine loophole ahead of Miami GP

The F1 rules have been tweaked ahead of the 2026 Miami Grand Prix

Sheona Mountford F1 Journalist

Motorsport journalist working in F1 since 2024.

Wednesday 29 April 2026 09:57

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F1 has introduced a major change to its technical regulations ahead of the Miami Grand Prix this season.

The FIA's decision comes on the heels of complaints regarding unnatural driving behaviour during the first three races. In response, the rules around the energy deployment of the MGU-K have been tightened, with the aim of fixing a systemic problem where drivers inadvertently wasted electric power after making slight steering corrections, according to The Race.

The new adjustments focus on the so-called 'power limited' phase. Now, drivers must keep the accelerator pressed at over 98 per cent for at least one full second to enter this mode.

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Previously, even a brief release of the accelerator would reset the system. Restarting the throttle then restarted the cycle, leading to unwanted high energy consumption. From now on, drivers will automatically be placed into the limited power mode exactly one second after crossing the 98 per cent threshold, regardless of any brief gas pedal lifts immediately after.

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It might sound complex, but the bottom line is that the cars were suddenly losing electric power with even minor mistakes before regaining too much too quickly. Oscar Piastri’s crash during the pre-start reconnaissance in Australia is a prime example of this issue.

Charles Leclerc also suffered from this regulation quirk during the sprint qualifying in China. Exiting the 10th corner, the Ferrari driver had to ease off the throttle slightly to correct an oversteer, dropping him just below the 98 per cent mark.

As a result, he used too much energy leading into the eleventh corner and ended up short on battery power on the straight. Leclerc described the situation as 'beyond words', while McLaren team principal Andrea Stella called the previous rules 'peculiar'.

Mark Temple, McLaren’s technical director, welcomes the upcoming changes, and said: "The intention is definitely to make significant improvements. If there's one thing we’ve learned from these regulations, it’s that you simply can’t predict everything."

While Temple believes the changes mark a positive step towards resolving these issues, he remains cautiously optimistic until the cars hit the track. That will happen this coming weekend in Miami following an unexpected early-season test.

"Surely, we’ll identify a few more quirks along the way that we can address," Temple added.

F1 FIA Charles Leclerc Oscar Piastri 2026 regulations Miami Grand Prix