Formula 1 is going through a moment of strong internal controversy after Oliver Bearman’s accident at the Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka, which reignited the debate about the safety of the technical regulations introduced for 2026. Several drivers, including Carlos Sainz, argue that the current speed differences between single-seaters represent a real and predictable risk, requiring urgent changes from the FIA and Formula One Management.
The Spaniard, who is on the board of the Grand Prix Drivers Association (GPDA), was particularly critical after the impact of around 50G suffered by Bearman, caused by significant differences in speed between cars in the energy management phase. According to Sainz, the drivers had already repeatedly warned about the danger of these situations even before the start of the season, arguing that the accident was “just a matter of time”.
The incident occurred when Bearman tried to avoid Franco Colapinto’s single-seater, which was traveling with less power available due to the energy recovery system, causing a sudden and violent approach. The episode exposed the practical consequences of the new hybrid rules, which divide power more evenly between thermal and electric engines and create unpredictable differences in straight-line performance.
Following the accident, Sainz criticized the tendency to privilege the television spectacle to the detriment of pilots’ safety, considering that the teams’ perception does not always coincide with the reality experienced inside the cockpit. The Spanish driver argued that speed differences exceeding tens of kilometers per hour do not represent real competition and substantially increase the risk of serious accidents.
The statements also appear in indirect response to the positions of the head of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team, Toto Wolff, who has defended the current regulations as positive for the spectacle and the attractiveness of the championship among the younger public. The Austrian leader even stated that only “conservatives and traditionalists” reject the current competitive format.
However, several pilots disagree with this assessment. Fernando Alonso, for example, considered that many overtakes no longer resulted from genuine racing maneuvers, starting to depend mainly on battery management and momentary differences in power between the cars.
The debate gained greater intensity after Suzuka, leading the FIA to confirm meetings to analyze possible regulatory changes before the next races, including the Miami Grand Prix. The federation recognized that the approaching speeds between single-seaters constitute a risk factor that requires urgent assessment.
Sainz also warned of the potential worsening of the problem on urban circuits such as the Baku Urban Circuit or the Las Vegas Strip Circuit, where margins for error are smaller and the impact of sudden differences in speed can have more serious consequences. The Spanish driver now hopes that Bearman’s accident will act as a turning point in the dialogue between drivers, teams and regulatorsallowing the introduction of solutions that reduce speed deltas and reinforce safety on the track.
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