The FIA has confirmed it will hold meetings in April to review the 2026 Formula 1 regulations after Oliver Bearman’s high-speed crash at the Japanese Grand Prix exposed concerns over extreme closing speeds.
Bearman, driving for Haas, went onto the grass and spun at better than 190 mph while trying to avoid Alpine’s Franco Colapinto, who had slowed on the flat-out run to Spoon Curve and crossed the track. Colapinto struck the barriers with an impact measured at roughly 50G. Bearman climbed out cautiously with a right knee contusion and no further injuries.
The large speed differential between the two cars became a central issue after the race. Bearman blamed the new 2026 rules, which mandate energy harvesting at the end of straights and can produce substantial speed deltas between cars. He said he experienced an ‘‘overspeed’’ of about 50 kph and felt he was not given sufficient space given how much faster he was closing. Bearman added that drivers had warned the FIA about these deltas and that the incident was an unfortunate example of a risk they had flagged.
The FIA issued a statement offering clarifications while cautioning that it was premature to speculate on possible changes. It reiterated that the 2026 rules have been continuously discussed with teams, power unit manufacturers, drivers and FOM since their introduction and noted the regulations include adjustable parameters—especially around energy management—that can be refined using real-world data.
The governing body said a structured review would take place after the opening phase of the season to collect and analyse sufficient data, and confirmed a number of meetings are scheduled in April to assess how the new rules are operating and whether refinements are necessary. The FIA stressed that any adjustments, particularly to energy management, will need careful simulation and detailed analysis and that safety remains a core priority.
Williams driver Carlos Sainz, a GPDA director, said the drivers met the FIA in Suzuka and that single-seater director Nicolas Tombazis reportedly indicated changes could be implemented by the next round in Miami in early May. Sainz called for a ‘‘better solution’’ to the safety risks created by big closing speeds and criticised suggestions that only qualifying needed attention. He warned that the problem also affects racing and that incidents like Suzuka could be far worse at tracks without escape roads, citing Baku, Singapore or Las Vegas as worrying examples.
Broadcaster Bernie Collins of Sky Sports F1 outlined possible technical fixes. One option would be to reduce the amount of battery energy charged and discharged during a lap—returning closer to last year’s setup—to lower peak closing speeds. Another would be to increase fuel flow so the internal combustion engine supplies more power, but Collins warned that raising fuel flow carries complications: it would affect teams differently depending on fuel, cooling and engine configurations, and teams may lobby for changes that suit their competitive positions.
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella, who warned about high closing speeds during pre-season testing, said Bearman’s crash was ‘‘not a surprise.’’ Stella urged a data-led analysis and for teams to share telemetry from both Colapinto’s and Bearman’s cars. He explained that the aim of a 350 kph ‘‘super clip’’ was to avoid drivers having to lift and coast—an action that can create even bigger speed differentials for following cars—but accepted the issue needs careful analytical study rather than simple fixes. Stella said he expects the topic to be high on the agenda during the upcoming discussions between the FIA, teams and F1.
F1 resumes on May 1-3 with the Miami Grand Prix, the season’s second Sprint weekend.