The Japanese Grand Prix weekend highlighted persistent problems with Formula 1's 2026 energy-management regulations, with Williams driver Carlos Sainz among drivers saying deployment rules and "superclipping" dominated qualifying.
A small pre-race tweak to energy usage reduced some superclipping effects but did not prevent cars from running out of electrical energy on the run to the chicane, and left the Esses largely without electric power.
Carlos Sainz said: "Bit disappointed in quali as the more you pushed, the slower you went," describing laps where faster corner speeds cost straight-line speed and overall time due to deployment limits.
The Suzuka weekend intensified debate in Formula 1 about whether further changes to the 2026 rules are needed, as several drivers voiced concern that energy-management dynamics now overly influence qualifying.
Read the full article at roadandtrack.com.
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