Carlos Sainz makes FIA, F1 plea over 'exaggerated' 2026 concern

Carlos Sainz has issued a plea to the FIA and Formula 1 to be "open-minded" about potentially changing the new energy management rules in grand prix racing.

For 2026, the power units feature a 50-50 split in power output between the internal combustion engines and batteries, which now produce 350kw, having been beefed up from 120kw in 2025.

This means energy management is critical, with pre-season testing uncovering the lift and coast demands, leading to Max Verstappen branding the regulations as "anti-racing" and as "Formula E on steroids."

At circuits such as Bahrain, the energy harvesting is less of a concern owing to the heavy braking zones, but at the Australia season-opener, it is going to be a major concern. 

Albert Park features only one really heavy braking zone, with the run from Turn 6 to Turn 13 flat out, featuring the high-speed flicks of Turns 11 and 12.

As such, Sainz, who also serves as a GPDA director, believes both the FIA and FOM should be open to "fine-tuning" the split in energy demands.

"Melbourne is going to be more challenging for sure, but I cannot tell you by how much because I haven't been in the simulator with what we're going to find in Melbourne," Sainz told media, including RacingNews365. 

"My message to FOM (Formula One Management) and the FIA is that at the start of the year, we need to stay open-minded in case the regulations we've come up with are maybe too exaggerated on the amount of harvesting and deployment we do on a lap. 

"At some circuits, it will be okay, like potentially here in Bahrain, even though I still think here is not fully okay with what we're seeing so far, but tracks like Melbourne and potentially Jeddah will be more energy-demanding. 

"I think we might need to adjust the regulations a bit, and fair play, it is not easy because it is such a big change, because I don't think anyone knew how to predict how much downforce and drag the car was going to have, and what level of deployment teams would come up with.

"My only ask would be to stay open in case we need to fine-tune or adjust to make the category and the show even better. That is my only message.

"I think we should start flexible, rather than be committed to a certain level of energy management."