Carlos Sainz ‘happy’ with F1 rule changes for Miami but expects ‘other things’ still need tweaking

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Williams driver Carlos Sainz is happy with the upcoming Formula 1 regulation changes but is expecting further tweaks in the future. 

After several meetings between the FIA, drivers, teams and shareholders, multiple changes to the 2026 regulations were announced ahead of next week’s Miami Grand Prix. 

The changes have been introduced in a bid to minimise concerns raised over the driveability and safety.

For example, following Oliver Bearman’s huge crash at the Japanese Grand Prix, the boost available to drivers during a race has been limited to +150kW.

Meanwhile, during qualifying, the maximum permitted recharge has been changed from 8MJ to 7MJ in the hope of reducing excessive harvesting.

The changes aim to allow drivers to drive flat-out more consistently, which is something they haven’t been able to do so far this season.

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Carlos Sainz ‘happy’ with F1 rule changes ahead of Miami Grand Prix

Reacting to the upcoming changes, Sainz praised the proactivity while hinting that further tweaks will have to be made. 

As reported by DAZN Espana, Sainz said: “I think the changes that the FIA and F1 and the teams have come up with to try and improve the racing, to try and improve the safety, to try and improve the qualifying. 

“I think I always said from the beginning that we need to remain open-minded because it’s such a big change in regulation that for sure we were not going to get everything right at the beginning.

“I’m happy to see some proactivity and changes going on that will probably have an effect, and probably there will be other things that we need to change in the future.

“I’m happy it’s taken action, and I cannot wait to see what effect it has on the raceability of the car and pushing the car to the limit in qualifying and see how it goes.”

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Sebastian Vettel sends ‘critical’ warning to FIA over 2026 rule changes

Four-time world champion Vettel has also had his say on the regulation changes, claiming that he hopes the DNA of F1 will be maintained.

Vettel said to Swedish media outlet SVT: “From the sporting side, I hear and I echo the criticism because the cars are probably fun to drive, but not so much fun to race because of the regulations and the difficulties that come with that.

“So, I sympathise with the drivers and I’m very critical not to lose the DNA and the heart of the sport, which is finding the fastest driver in the fastest machine to win the race.

“I’ve seen it briefly. I hope from a sporting point of view that what they are trying to address makes the drivers happier. Ultimately, the drivers are the face of the sport, they come out of the car and full of adrenaline and very excited. It’s what makes people in the stands excited as well.”