As crucial meetings with the FIA approach, drivers are getting active behind the scenes… and tension is rising.
With just days to go before decisive discussions on the 2026 technical rules, Formula 1 drivers are not sitting idly by. According to Alexander Wurz, president of the GPDA (the drivers’ association), their famous WhatsApp group is currently buzzing.
“This famous WhatsApp group, created in 2015 or 2016, is exploding, he confides. I’ve rarely seen it so active. It’s overflowing with emotions, possible solutions, and technical ideas”
A clear sign that drivers want to have their say in upcoming decisions.
Crucial discussions for the future of F1
During the April break, meetings are planned between the FIA, F1, teams, engine manufacturers, and drivers. At the heart of the debates: problems related to energy management of the new power units introduced in 2026.
Since the start of the season, these new rules have been controversial. Between uneven performance and dangerous situations on track, many voices are calling for rapid adjustments.
The spectacular accident involving Oliver Bearman in Japan has notably revived concerns.
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Drivers want to be heard
Among the most committed, Carlos Sainz, also a director of the GPDA, has insisted on the necessity for the FIA to take the drivers’ feelings into account. In private exchanges, the goal is clear: to propose concrete solutions to improve safety and the quality of the show.
“The drivers are extremely invested and sincerely seeking to improve the product” explains Wurz. “Politics is not their priority”
Despite the intensity of the debates, Wurz remains optimistic about the general state of mind in the paddock.
“What’s beautiful is to see how involved and passionate they are” he emphasizes, while reminding that the content of the discussions will remain confidential.
One thing is certain: as these meetings approach, the pressure is mounting. And for once, the drivers seem determined not to remain spectators. The next decisions could thus profoundly redefine the balance of this already high-tension 2026 F1 season.
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