FIA Urged to Change 'Dangerous' 2026 F1 Rules After Bearman Crash

Former F1 technical director Gary Anderson has issued a stark warning to the FIA, stating that the new 2026 power unit regulations create a "dangerous" situation of extreme speed differences and must be urgently revised to prevent a potentially fatal crash. The call for action follows Oliver Bearman's high-speed incident at the Japanese Grand Prix, which McLaren team principal Andrea Stella called a predictable outcome of the current ruleset.

Why it matters:

The 2026 regulations are designed to be a cornerstone of F1's future, promoting sustainability and closer racing. However, if a fundamental flaw allows cars on the same straight to have a closing speed delta of over 300 km/h, it undermines the core principle of driver safety. Anderson's warning that the sport is waiting for a "major aviation disaster"-style crash highlights the critical need for proactive rule refinement before a tragedy occurs, not after.

The Details:

• The incident involved Haas driver Oliver Bearman approaching the slowed Alpine of Franco Colapinto at an estimated 305 km/h (190 mph) on the Suzuka straight. Colapinto's car had a depleted battery, putting it in a low-power "super clip" mode.
• A Known Issue: Anderson and Stella both emphasized this was not a freak accident. Teams had reportedly flagged the risk of massive closing speeds during testing when one car is harvesting or deploying energy and another is not.
• Inherent Flaw: The current 2026 rules permit cars on the same piece of track to operate at drastically different speeds. Anderson argues this sets a predictable trap, unlike a driver error where the driver is aware and can brace for impact.
• Stark Warning: Anderson wrote that if a similar speed differential occurs during an overtaking move into a corner like Turn 1, "the outcome would be like a major aviation disaster." He bluntly concluded that without change, "a driver could die."
• Team Pressure: McLaren's Andrea Stella stated the FIA has the issue on its agenda but stressed the need for proactive measures, noting Bearman was "lucky" to escape with only bruising.

What's Next:

The ball is now in the FIA's court. The governing body has acknowledged the incident and stated it will work with stakeholders with "safety remaining at the heart of its mission."

• The coming months will be a critical test of the FIA's ability to swiftly identify and rectify safety loopholes in the complex 2026 package before teams lock in their final designs.
• Failure to address this specific danger credibly could erode confidence in the new regulations before they even hit the track, putting the focus on crisis management rather than sporting promise.