Don’t expect surprises: FIA’s Tombazis cools hype over F1 changes

As Formula 1 prepares to resume its season in Miami next week, FIA single-seater director Nikolas Tombazis has moved to temper expectations following a series of adjustments to the sport’s 2026 technical regulation.

Despite the "widely-criticised" nature of the initial 2026 blueprints, the FIA’s updates – largely focused on enhancing the qualifying spectacle and mitigating high-speed closing risks – are being framed as an evolution rather than a revolution.

For fans hoping for a total reshuffle of the deck before the cars hit the track in Miami, Tombazis suggests a more measured outlook.

A familiar picture on track

While the tweaks are designed to appease both drivers and safety advocates, the core DNA of the current racing era remains intact.

Tombazis believes that the existing trend of tight competition is the priority, viewing these adjustments as subtle refinements to an already successful formula.

“Fans have by and large been enjoying the new regulations because they’ve brought closer racing and I think first and foremost we expect that to continue,” Tombazis stated in a video published by the FIA.

“We think that will be continuing and clearly as the regulations become more mature we expect some teams who are currently lagging behind to gradually catch up and have closer and closer racing as time goes by and as the months and years go by. So that we expect to stay.”

For the spectator in the grandstands or watching at home, the "fundamental" experience will remain largely unchanged according to Tombazis.

“Regarding what we see at the track, these changes are not revolutionary,” he reiterated. “They’re not going to fundamentally change the picture that you see.

“Qualifying will be more flat-out for the drivers. Maybe you will perceive that as you see in the camera shots from within the cockpit and you hear the tone of the power unit, for example, that’s maybe one thing you’re going to see.”

Safety and driver unity

The impetus for these changes didn't emerge in a vacuum. The FIA worked closely with the grid to address specific anxieties regarding the 2026 power units and the physical demands of the cars.

According to Tombazis, the drivers were an uncharacteristically united front when it came to these technical demands.

“The position of the drivers was quite uniform,” he explained. “They were all pushing for some changes in qualifying in order to, let’s say, enjoy more the driving, push more, but also they were pushing for us to address certain safety concerns they had, so they were quite united and their input in this was very important.”

Navigating the bureaucratic labyrinth of F1 governance is never simple, especially with teams and power unit manufacturers protecting their massive investments.

• Read also: FIA shakes up Miami GP schedule with extended practice session

However, Tombazis emphasized that when it comes to the well-being of the drivers, the FIA holds the ultimate trump card.

“We, of course, have a very established process whereby the FIA together with the teams or the [power unit] manufacturers discuss these changes in various meetings and discuss how to improve everything, how to improve the sport,” he said.

“Clearly when the regulations are new, like we have in 2026, that’s a slightly more intense process of discussion than maybe when the regulations had a few years of maturity.

“There’s a government process to approve regulations. The FIA cannot unilaterally change regulations. They need to have a vote involving either the Formula 1 teams or the power unit manufacturers who – let’s not forget – spend millions and millions in the sport and therefore have a right to have a word.”

But when the conversation shifts to safety, the pleasantries stop.

“Safety is something we can’t compromise,” he added. “Safety is something that, through the governance, the FIA has the right or even the responsibility to act even unilaterally.

“So any safety measures we of course discuss with everybody in order to hear the good views of very experienced people but ultimately we, FIA, can decide to take safety measures if we feel that’s important.”

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