– Former Formula 1 driver David Coulthard has sharply targeted the FIA, the world governing body for motorsport. The Scot accuses the FIA of reacting far too slowly to the foreseeable problems of the technical regulations for 2026. He compares the situation to a slow-motion disaster that everyone really saw coming.
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The 13-time Grand Prix winner voiced his frustration that the world governing body simply ignored early warnings. The introduction of the new rules – especially the power split of almost 50:50 between combustion engine and electric drive – had already raised major concerns among drivers and engineers long before the cars even hit the track.
“What disappointed me a bit: when you consider that [the new regulations] rolled towards us like a steamroller. There’s this comedy scene in a movie where a steamroller comes rolling and the person shouts: ‘Oh no, I’m being run over!’ And in the next scene, he looks at his watch and says: ‘Oh, I’m still being run over,'” Coulthard explains in an episode of the Up To Speed podcast.
FIA kept silent about the problems
According to Coulthard, the technical heads in the paddock had loudly expressed their concerns, but their warnings were “virtually silenced.” It was only during the pre-season tests and the season opener at the Australian Grand Prix that the reality of the regulations became clear to everyone.
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“So the new regulations came towards us while drivers and engineers said: ‘This won’t go well.’ From the rest, basically only silence,” Coulthard continues. “Then we come to Melbourne and realize: ‘Ah, the cars are already braking while approaching certain corners.'”
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“The recovery after this disappointment was good from Miami onwards, I have to say. And the fact that we had five different winners in the last five Grands Prix speaks for a varied season.”
Reaction came too late
“But I feel that we all saw this coming and no one really listened. That in a sport that simulates the future to death, you had to react only to reality was disappointing. And that clearly falls on the FIA’s shoulders.”
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“I know they will react sensitively and say: ‘Well, we are just a small group of people and the Formula 1 teams have hundreds of employees.’ But all the facts were on the table that a 50:50 split between electric drive and combustion engine would be extremely challenging. And what are we doing for the future?”
“Next year, the combustion engine share will be increased again, and even more is being discussed for the year after. Seeing the obvious first and then reacting to it is simply disappointing.”
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