Domenicali acknowledges that a modification to the 2026 regulations is a possibility.

      Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has recognized that modifications to the contentious 2026 regulations might be necessary, but he asserts that any changes must be made "in a constructive way." Amid continuous criticism from drivers such as Max Verstappen, Domenicali emphasized that the option for refinements remains open. "What I’ve communicated to him is to assess what genuinely drives him," Domenicali stated to SportMediaset when discussing the four-time world champion. "If there’s a need for changes in the regulations, it must be approached constructively. That is the appropriate method."

      He also noted that the new regulations still have the potential to narrow the competitive gap. "Absolutely yes," Domenicali affirmed when asked if other teams could catch up with Mercedes. "Given the structure of these regulations, I believe that the opportunity for other teams to recover could arise more swiftly than what we have witnessed in past years."

      Although no significant changes are anticipated during the current season, focus is shifting towards possible adjustments, especially regarding qualifying. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has already hinted at this direction. "What we might still be able to refine is the qualifying format, where we should lessen energy management a bit," he mentioned to Osterreich. "That’s something we’re working on."

      Discussions about more substantial, long-term changes are already taking place behind the scenes. Ralf Schumacher reported that he has heard of plans being considered for next year to modify the balance between electric and combustion power. "I’ve heard that there are plans for something significant to change next year," he told f1-insider.com. Ideally, he suggested that the sport could shift closer to a different ratio between electric and combustion power. "Perhaps around 70-30," the German proposed.

      For Schumacher, the central issue is how the current system impacts driving. "We want to see the fastest race driver, not the best electrical engineer," he stated. He pointed out visible inconsistencies in the current regulations. "When the camera shifts to the steering wheel and the car suddenly loses 40 or 50 km/h at the end of the straight while the driver is hard on the throttle, it’s clear there is an issue."

      He added that drivers are entering corners significantly slower than before. "They are rolling into the corners about 20 to 30 km/h slower. It’s like night and day," Schumacher remarked. According to him, this particularly frustrates top drivers, noting that "classy drivers like Max can’t fully exploit their advantages, which is frustrating for them."