Ben Sulayem pays tribute to all parties for Formula One changes

With the Miami Grand Prix just one-and-a-half weeks away, Formula 1 aficionados will be rubbing their hands in anticipation at what the package of targeted regulatory changes for the 2026 season, agreed to between the FIA, Team Principals, CEOs of Power Unit Manufacturers and FOM (Formula One Management) on Monday, is likely to bring.

The changes, pushed mainly by disgruntled drivers like Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, cover qualifying energy management, race safety and power controls, race start-line safety systems, and wet-weather visibility and grip improvements.

On Wednesday, FIA’s Emirati president Mohammed Ben Sulayem paid tribute to all parties across the FIA Formula One World Championship for coming together to agree to the changes.

"I would like to praise everyone across the Formula One ecosystem – the FIA staff, teams, drivers and the Power Unit Manufacturers – for the constructive and collaborative work carried out in a very short space of time," said Ben Sulayem. "While we have faced an unexpected gap in the calendar due to circumstances beyond the sport, all parties have remained fully committed to acting in the best interests of Formula One.

"More than ever, the drivers have been at the heart of these discussions, and I would like to thank them for their valuable input throughout this process," he added.

Speaking on the sidelines of the FIA Region I Spring Meeting in Budva, Montenegro, the FIA President said that safety and sporting fairness remain the FIA's highest priorities. These changes have been introduced to address the issues identified in the opening events and to ensure the continued integrity and quality of the competition.

The discussions around potential adjustments were based on data gathered from the first three events of the 2026 season.

The final proposals will now be put before a FIA WMSC e-vote with a view to implementation before the Miami Grand Prix on May 3, except for the race starts proposals, which will be tested and analysed during that weekend.

The FIA Region I Spring Meeting in Budva reaches its conclusion on Thursday after three days of discussions by representatives from 102 FIA Member Clubs in the Middle East, Europe and Africa to advance safe and sustainable mobility for motor sport fans and road users.