McLaren has expressed that the changes made to the power unit regulations of Formula 1, scheduled for the Miami Grand Prix, should eliminate the need for drivers to practice the ‘lift and coast’ technique during qualifying.
During the April break, F1 officials reviewed the controversial 2026 power unit rules, which had significantly affected qualifying and raised safety concerns due to the high speeds between cars.
Drivers had been forced to modify their driving style to manage the energy scarcity of the cars, resulting from an almost even distribution between combustion power and electric energy. With the new system, the pursuit of the best lap time involved atypical behaviors, such as lifting the throttle on straights and coasting through fast corners.
The main changes to improve qualifying include increasing the power limit from 250 to 350 kW, as well as reducing the energy recovery limit from eight to seven MJ. With these adjustments, the aim is to decrease the need for ‘lift and coast’ in corners, allowing drivers to maintain a more natural pace during their laps.
Mark Temple, technical director of McLaren, commented that these modifications will allow drivers to drive more naturally. “From a driving perspective, the goal is to avoid these actions that drivers do not appreciate during qualifying,” he explained.
Temple added that while the energy management needs of 2026 will still present particularities in driving, they will be more similar to what drivers have experienced in previous seasons, especially regarding tire and fuel management.
Andrea Stella, head of the McLaren team, believes that the F1 community should maintain an open mindset towards future adjustments, and hopes that the new low-power start regulations will be implemented to reduce risks during launches.
In conclusion, McLaren considers that the changes made are a positive step and hopes that the Formula 1 community can continue to refine the regulations based on observed results.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
