F1 engineer offers radical solution to end super clipping issues for good

The Spaniard, who worked in Formula 1 from 2006 to 2012 with HRT, Super Aguri and Sauber, before a brief stint at Ferrari in 2015-2016, shared a simulation on his X profile suggesting that Formula 1 could address many of the issues seen in the opening three races through a few simple yet significant changes.

Cuquerella’s proposal revolves around a series of targeted adjustments to the power unit parameters: reducing maximum positive power from 350 kW to 200 kW, keeping maximum harvesting at 350 kW, lowering the maximum energy recharge from 9 MJ to 6 MJ, and halving the slew rate from 100 kW/s to 50 kW/s, while also shifting the MGU-K/ICE balance from 50/50 to 36/64.

According to his simulation, these changes would deliver a top speed of around 328 km/h just before braking - compared to the 338 km/h currently expected under the existing rules, a difference of only 10 km/h - while completely eliminating super clipping, even on a track with an extremely long back straight like Miami.

Despite the adjustments, the overall performance loss would remain limited to roughly 1.4 seconds per lap, with the cars still over eight seconds faster than Formula 2.

It should be noted that such changes would be virtually impossible to implement in the short term, as shifting the balance between the ICE and electric components to that extent would require a complete redesign of the power unit architecture.

However, the proposed simulation still offers an interesting insight into how Formula 1 could potentially work its way out of a situation largely that is currently fuelling significant debate and controversy.

Carlos Sainz, who also serves as a director of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association, expressed hope that decision-makers will take drivers’ concerns into account, despite their lack of direct influence in the process.

Speaking in Suzuka, he criticised the tendency to rely solely on team feedback, arguing that what may look acceptable from the outside does not reflect the reality drivers face on track.

He pointed to the extreme speed differences - sometimes reaching 50 kph - as evidence that the current situation cannot be considered true racing, warning that such gaps create unpredictable and potentially dangerous scenarios, with drivers often caught off guard when attempting to defend or avoid contact.