FIA FAILED TO LISTEN TO WARNINGS OVER ITS 2026 F1 RULES CHANGE – COULTHARD

David Coulthard says the FIA ignored clear warnings about the 2026 regulations and deserves the blame for the energy-starved disaster that forced a mid-season rule change. The problem surfaced immediately in Melbourne — cars visibly slowing before fast corners because the 50-50 ICE-electric split couldn't keep batteries charged. Drivers and engineers flagged this years before the regs dropped, but the FIA pressed ahead anyway. Four races in, the series had to scramble fixes after Miami.

Coulthard's frustration centers on a basic failure: F1 teams simulate relentlessly, yet the governing body missed what was obvious to insiders. The fix trajectory tells the story — more internal combustion for 2027, likely more still in 2028, walking back the original formula. He compared the rollout to a disappointing World Cup halftime show. The 2026 regs were supposed to anchor F1's hybrid era; instead they're already being rewritten, leaving teams chasing a moving regulatory target through the next two seasons.