F1 drivers’ WhatsApp group ‘absolutely blowing up’ in push for solutions

Oliver Bearman’s heavy crash at Suzuka last weekend has raised fresh safety concerns, putting the spotlight once again on the 2026 regulations — already under fire, particularly from Max Verstappen.

The British driver suddenly found himself closing rapidly on Franco Colapinto’s Alpine, which had slowed significantly due to depleted energy. As the Argentine moved left, the situation escalated into a high-speed incident that sent Bearman hard into the barriers — fortunately without injury.

A meeting involving all key stakeholders is set for April 9 to discuss the issue. However, despite the growing concerns, GPblog understands that no immediate overhaul is on the table, with any major regulatory changes unlikely to arrive before the 2027 season.

Speaking on the Lift and Roast podcast, the former Austrian driver said: “That famous WhatsApp group we’ve got, which I set up back in 2015 or 2016 — it’s absolutely blowing up right now. I’ve never seen it this active, honestly — even just before the podcast it was going off.

Former F1 engineer Toni Cuquerella has put forward an alternative approach to the 2026 power unit regulations, centred around a series of tweaks aimed at improving drivability and overall racing quality.

His proposal focuses on rebalancing how energy is deployed and recovered, alongside adjustments to power delivery and system responsiveness, with the goal of smoothing out some of the issues already highlighted by drivers.

Based on his simulations, the concept would have only a minimal impact on outright top speed, while addressing one of the most debated concerns surrounding the new regulations — particularly on circuits with long straights such as Miami.