FIA restricts 'hazardous' energy technique.

      The safety concerns quickly became apparent.

      The FIA has swiftly acted to prohibit a contentious qualifying 'trick' following media reports earlier this month. Several outlets, including Auto Motor und Sport and La Gazzetta dello Sport, have confirmed that Mercedes and Red Bull were taking advantage of a loophole in the 2026 energy management regulations. It was revealed that teams were testing aggressive electrical energy deployment, utilizing full battery power deep into a lap before abruptly cutting it off, which led to unpredictable behavior and a 60-second lockout of the MGU-K system. Now, the governing body has intervened.

      As reported by Auto Motor und Sport, the "dangerous" trick involved activating a built-in 'emergency mode'—initially intended to safeguard hardware—in order to bypass the required gradual power reduction as battery charge diminished. Instead of gradually reducing in controlled 50 kW increments, drivers could unleash maximum power until the very last moment.

      The advantage, though slight, was significant in qualifying, where "the final meters to the finish line can be covered with maximum energy, potentially saving crucial hundredths of a second," as stated by f1-insider.com. However, the safety implications quickly became evident.

      Cars began to decelerate suddenly after fast laps due to the 60-second MGU-K shutdown, resulting in substantial speed disparities—an issue already amplified by the extreme energy management features of the 2026 cars. During the April break, the FIA has taken firm action. Teams have now been cautioned that the emergency mode should be used solely in legitimate technical situations, with telemetry closely monitored and penalties for misuse in place. While the basic mechanism itself remains permissible, its use for performance enhancement has effectively been banned.