Sergio Perez has revealed he narrowly avoided a "massive shunt" during the Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, warning that "something bad is going to happen" if the 2026 power unit regulations are not changed.
Perez, driving for Cadillac, expressed his concerns after the race in Baku. He stated that the closing speed differences between cars are extremely dangerous, especially when defending from Liam Lawson. "I was going to have a massive shunt with Lawson when I was defending from him, because the difference in deployment and power across engines is too dangerous," he said.
The 2026 power unit regulations, featuring a 50/50 split between electrical and internal combustion energy, have been widely criticised. While much of the outrage has focused on the detrimental impact on the on-track spectacle, safety concerns have been widespread. Drivers have long feared the massive closing speeds caused by the energy harvesting required by these new power units. An incident between Franco Colapinto and Ollie Bearman in Japan highlighted this.
From next year, the power split will alter slightly to 47/42 ahead of a 60/40 change for 2028. However, Perez believes the changes are not enough. He hopes the gap between Mercedes and Red Bull Ford power units and the rest can be closed. "I hope they are able to close up the gap, because at the moment it feels like Mercedes and Red Bull, they have a very strong engine, and they can get you in places where the deployment is so poor and different to us," he explained. "The difference in speed is too dangerous."
Perez had Ferrari's updated power unit for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, but was still unable to get Cadillac into Q2 for the first time this season. He ended the race 14th, as the team's wait for its first points continues. His teammate, Valtteri Bottas, crashed out on the penultimate lap at Turn 15, blaming an issue with his car's systems getting "confused" after he ran wide at Turn 1 moments earlier.
Cadillac is the only team yet to score points in the 2026 grid. With performance still far from competitive, pressure is mounting on the team to adapt to the new regulations. However, for Perez, the main issue is not just performance but safety. He is calling for regulatory changes before something fatal occurs.
"I fear something bad is going to happen soon, if we don't make some changes on the regulations," he warned. This adds to the growing criticism of the 2026 regulations, which are seen as too ambitious and compromising racing quality. The FIA and other stakeholders are now under pressure to reevaluate the rules for the safety of the drivers.
With the next race approaching, all eyes will be on how the authorities respond to these concerns. Will they ignore Perez's warning, or will they take action before it's too late? Only time will tell, but for Perez and other drivers, time is running out.
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