Formula 1, Sportrik Media - Andrea Stella, Team Principal of McLaren, has urged Formula 1 to introduce rapid adjustments to the 2026 power unit regulations after identifying what he considers a potential safety concern ahead of the new season.
As F1 enters its final three-day pre-season test, teams continue adapting to the radically revised power units, which now feature a 50-50 split between internal combustion and electrical output. The increased reliance on electrical deployment has significantly altered driving techniques across the grid.
Drivers such as Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have already had to modify their approach, particularly by lifting off the throttle well before braking zones to harvest energy more efficiently. While effective from an energy management perspective, Stella believes this behaviour could create hazardous race situations.
“There are simple technical solutions that can fix it — the necessity to lift and coast,” Stella told media including RacingNews365. “This can raise situations which are dangerous for the car that follows.”
His concern centres on the unpredictability created when a leading car reduces speed earlier than expected. A following driver, anticipating conventional braking points, could misjudge closing speeds, especially in high-speed sections or heavy traffic scenarios.
Another issue raised during testing relates to launch procedures on the starting grid. Some teams are still adapting to the revised system architecture, which may delay optimal deployment at race starts.
Stella stressed that safety considerations must take precedence over competitive implications, regardless of how potential fixes might affect the performance hierarchy among teams such as Ferrari, Mercedes, and Red Bull Racing.
“We’re not talking about how fast you are in qualifying or what your race pace is,” he said. “We are talking about safety on the grid. There are topics that are simply bigger than competitive interest.”
He argued that if safety improvements can be implemented through relatively straightforward technical adjustments, there should be no hesitation in doing so.
“Having safety on the grid, which can be achieved with a simple adjustment, is just a no-brainer. It’s a bigger interest.”
With the 2026 regulations redefining the balance between combustion power and electrification, Stella’s intervention highlights that the transition is not solely a performance challenge, but also a matter of ensuring operational and competitive safety as the new era begins.
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