Formula 1, Sportrik Media - Andrea Stella, team principal of McLaren, has cautioned against Formula 1 becoming overly reliant on lift and coast under the new 2026 power unit regulations, advocating instead for regulatory adjustments surrounding super clipping following pre-season testing in Bahrain.
The 2026 season introduces a new generation of power units featuring a near-equal split between internal combustion and electrical output. As a result, energy harvesting requirements have increased significantly, placing greater emphasis on deployment strategy and recovery efficiency. Two methods have drawn particular scrutiny during testing: lift and coast (LiCo) and super clipping.
Lift and coast, traditionally a fuel-saving technique, involves a driver easing off the throttle before the braking zone. Under the 2026 rules, this manoeuvre can generate up to 350kW of energy recovery — the full capacity of the MGU-K. Super clipping, by contrast, occurs when the battery begins harvesting energy while the driver remains at full throttle, causing a tapering of top speed.
While clipping has existed in previous eras when electric deployment was exhausted, the 2026 framework introduces it as an active harvesting method. However, regulations currently cap super clipping at 250kW to avoid sudden and excessive reductions in speed, a measure introduced primarily on safety grounds by the FIA.
Stella argued that limiting super clipping effectively incentivises drivers to rely more heavily on lift and coast to achieve the 350kW recovery figure, potentially creating unpredictable closing speeds for following cars. He also noted that the characteristics of the Bahrain International Circuit are not fully representative of other venues on the calendar.
“When it comes to lift and coast, we need to be careful as an F1 community, because Bahrain does not necessarily expose the need for it. It’s a harvest-rich circuit where you can recover under braking without special manoeuvres that may surprise the car behind,” Stella explained.
During the recent F1 Commission meeting — involving the FIA, Formula One Management and the teams — an agreement was reached to test super clipping at 350kW. McLaren evaluated the higher threshold on the final day of running in Sakhir.
“We tested the possibility of increasing super clipping to 350kW. Technically, it allows harvesting 350kW at full throttle, meaning the driver does not need to lift and coast to achieve that figure,” Stella added.
The final decision on whether to amend the regulations rests with the FIA. However, McLaren has expressed satisfaction with the trial results, potentially paving the way for a rule adjustment before the 2026 season officially begins.
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