Date of key F1 meeting announced: Verstappen and Norris want change, teams hesitant

After the Japanese Grand Prix, there was renewed debate among drivers, including Max Verstappen, Lando Norris, Fernando Alonso, and Carlos Sainz, about changing the technical regulations mid-season, with the battery making overtaking artificial and super clipping creating dangerous scenarios, like the one that led to Oliver Bearman's crash.

This season the balance is 50/50 between the internal combustion engine and the battery, and there are plenty of drivers in favor of immediately reducing the battery’s share within the power unit.

For now, it seems to be a disadvantage for the drivers that they don’t have a seat at the table on April 9, as not all teams are convinced about such a major change; they believe the racing is actually entertaining for viewers at home. Reportedly, Mercedes and Ferrari are not eager for a major overhaul. Claims that the FIA has already changed its stance internally and sided with the drivers are denied to this site.

In the short term, a subtler adjustment should be considered first, such as a definitive change to battery usage during qualifying. That was also the case in Suzuka.

Does that rule out an adjustment to the ratio between the internal combustion engine and the battery? Certainly not, but it seems more likely to happen for the 2027 season. For example, there is talk of increasing fuel flow so the internal combustion engine delivers more performance, and the battery might account for only a third of the power unit.

That is undoubtedly not a decision that will be made on April 9. Such far-reaching adjustments will surely be discussed multiple times and in various working groups.

Verstappen, Norris, and their colleagues will likely see some changes in Miami, but they shouldn’t expect too much, this website understands.