FIA patches 2026 rules after three races as battery drain drops cars below Formula 3 power

Three races into the 2026 season, the FIA introduced regulation tweaks to address "energy-starvation": when batteries deplete, cars fall to roughly 540 bhp — below Formula 3 levels. The 50-50 ICE-electric split, lacking the MGU-H and front-axle recovery, produces "yo-yo racing" with sudden 350 kW swings. Verstappen called it "not really realistic." An intermediate fix is planned for 2027, with a 60-40 shift by 2028.