Last week, following an online meeting involving team principals, FOM and power unit manufacturers, the FIA confirmed that proposals agreed in principle for 2027 would include an increase of around 50kW in internal combustion engine power through higher fuel flow, alongside a reduction of roughly 50kW in ERS deployment power.

This would see the 50:50 split of electrical power and internal combustion (ICE) move more closely to a 60:40 split in favour of the latter, after drivers and fans alike have lamented the 2026 cars' need for energy management, raising concerns surrounding not only qualifying and racing, but also safety.

The sport's governing body had also introduced tweaks to the current rules at the Miami GP, which have still left some drivers, including Max Verstappen dissatisfied, despite F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali's claims that they delivered a "truly wonderful" spectacle.

Are all these changes too much too soon though? After all, we are only four rounds into the new season, Kimberley and Hunt discuss this and a whole lot more in the latest episode, just as Audi's Nico Hulkenberg defends the 2026 rules against fan criticism.

Driving for new team Audi, understood to be attracted to F1 2026's move towards electrification and sustainability, Hülkenberg spoke to The Drive about the reaction so far to the new rules, telling critics not to watch the sport if they don’t enjoy the new regulations, and instead arguing the opening races have been “good to watch."

He said: “To be honest, it’s always been like that in F1, hasn’t it? F1 is about leading in technology, and you have to go with the times. If you look at the automotive industry 5 years ago, 10 years ago, it’s different now; it has changed.

Hülkenberg later added: “A few years ago, sustainability was a huge topic, now less so. But, you know, I kind of feel like F1 and its rulemakers were pushed a little bit in that direction to stay with current times. If you want to stay up to date and be a legit business and entertainment model, you have to go down that road."