Ferrari tipped to suffer huge strength loss after F1 rule changes

Former F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya believes the changes to F1's power unit regulations from next weekend's Miami Grand Prix will take away a major Ferrari strength and help all Mercedes-powered teams.

Changes to the regulations will come into effect at the Miami International Autodrome, following the FIA, FOM, drivers and teams reaching an agreement over what adjustments should be made to the power units.

The aim of the adjustments is to improve safety, but also to make overtaking less artificial and return qualifying laps to being fully on the limit.

Crucially, race starts have also been addressed, with dangerous incidents already having occurred in 2026.

In the Australian season opener, remarkable reactions from Franco Colapinto prevented a huge accident, as Liam Lawson, directly ahead, moved incredibly slowly off the line.

From the Miami Grand Prix onwards, a system will come into effect whereby cars that have difficulty getting away at the start will be given a ‘push’.

Should this happen, electrical energy from the MGU-K will be released early to help the car build speed faster. In theory, this should significantly reduce the chances of a start-line crash.

According to Montoya, Ferrari — with its electric starts so far this season — will be hurt by the rule change, while the Mercedes cars, which have often been slow off the line, will benefit.

Discussing who might benefit from the rule changes, Montoya said on the MontoyAS podcast: "Personally, I think the changes at the starts, and how they are going to adjust the energy at the starts, are going to help Mercedes.

"It removes a disadvantage they had — and not just Mercedes as a team, but all the cars with a Mercedes engine. So not the team itself, but the power source.

"If you look at the starts of most of the Mercedes cars, they were not strong. And Red Bull's starts were often not good either — or not bad, but inconsistent.

"And this takes away a bit of the advantage from Ferrari in the opening stages."