Should F1 change tracks or racing guidelines to tackle dangers in 2026 rules?

However you feel about the state of F1 in 2026, there is no debate over what has caused the huge changes in the sport this year: the new technical regulations, and the effect they have had on the cars.

But as F1 faces an urgent need to address the potential for high closing speeds caused by the rules, does it need to consider changing more than the cars?

In previous seasons, F1 has responded to safety concerns not just by changing cars, but the tracks too. The driving standards guidelines may also have a role to play: after his high-speed crash at Suzuka, Oliver Bearman revealed drivers had discussed what constitutes a safe defensive move when the closing speed between a pair of cars is high.

But should a problem created by F1’s technical rules only be solved through further changes to the cars? Or does F1 need to go further and look at how to improve safety by changing its tracks and racing guidelines?

Change the tracks?

The shortcomings of F1’s new generation of cars is particularly apparent on tracks with fewer braking zones and longer flat-out sections. These tracks offer less opportunity for power units to regenerate energy, forcing drivers to slow down more in sections they previously tackled at top speed.

Areas with high top speeds also present the greatest risk of the situation which caught Bearman out, when he caught Franco Colapinto ahead of him more quickly than expected. The risk is arguably highest in flat-out kinks such as the right-hander before Spoon curve where Bearman went off.

Slowing these corners by inserting chicanes could create a double benefit: reducing speeds at the most dangerous parts on the circuit and creating another opportunity for energy generation, reducing the need for cars to slow down elsewhere.

Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and

In-season changes to multiple tracks on safety grounds has happened before, most famously in 1994, in response to the deaths of Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger at Imola. The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Silverstone, Spa-Francorchamps, Estoril and Jerez all made significant changes, while a chicane was added at the Circuit de Catalunya (pictured top) at the drivers’ insistence.

There are potential drawbacks. Such changes may not be practical at all circuits, and track operators would understandably be unhappy at having to pay for changes caused by a problem rooted in F1’s technical rules. It could also involve ruining some of F1’s most celebrated corners, such as Eau Rouge and Becketts, though some would argue the new regulations will spoil these corners anyway, as was the case at Suzuka.

Change the racing guidelines?

When Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu absolved Colapinto of responsibility for Bearman’s crash minutes after it happened, and the stewards declined to investigate it, many took that as the end of any debate over whether the Alpine driver contributed to the shunt. However it soon became apparent Bearman did not share his team principal’s view that Colapinto was blameless.

This week Bearman said drivers had discussed the potential dangers arising from the huge speed differences made possible by the new rules and Colapinto had ignored them. The Alpine driver dropped a gear early heading into the corner and moved further away from the racing line than on previous laps.

“Franco moved across in front of me to defend his position,” said Bearman. “Last year [it] would have been absolutely on the limit, but probably okay, with just 5 or 10 kph speed delta. But with 50kph, he did not leave me enough space and I had to avoid a much, much bigger crash, basically.”

As the stewards chose not to investigate the incident, any driver in Colapinto’s position in future would be justified in doing the same. Should the onus be on the attacking driver to be prepared for that kind of move, or does allowing a driver to move off-line to defend in these circumstances invite the risk of a dangerous aerial crash?

Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and

I say

As the fault lies with the technical regulations in the first place, I would prefer to see F1 fix these. I’m no fan of creating rules which prevent drivers making legitimate defensive moves and I especially dislike the idea of forcing tracks to insert chicanes as was considered necessary in 1994.

That said, what does F1 really have to lose? The quality of racing is dismal this year and F1’s most spectacular corners have been ruined by the new power units.

In an ideal world I’d change neither. But F1 is so far from ideal right now it might as well change whatever it needs to avoid the one thing that would make it worse: a foreseeable, avoidable aerial crash which results in injury or worse.

You say

Should F1 limit its fixes to the technical regulations – or should it be looking at changes to the tracks and racing rules as well? If so, what should it change?

Cast your vote below and have your say in the comments.

 Loading …

 Loading …

A RaceFans account is required in order to vote. If you do not have one, register an account here or read more about registering here. When this poll is closed the result will be displayed instead of the voting form.

Debates and polls

• What must Formula 1 fix with its new rules – and what should it leave unchanged?
• ADUO: Do F1 teams who fall behind deserve to get help to catch up?
• F1 is considering doubling its sprint races. Do you want more or fewer?
• Will this be a fight or a rout? 20 questions for the 2026 Formula 1 season
• Which Formula 1 team has the best-looking car – and the worst – for the 2026 season?

Browse all debates and polls