Andrea Stella says Formula 1 must fix qualifying now. The McLaren team principal warned that the 2026 power units have turned a flying lap into battery management. He pointed to lap segments like Degner One and Spoon at Suzuka as proof that drivers cannot attack. The FIA has already moved. It cut the recoverable energy limit in qualifying to 7 MJ to help bring back flat-out laps.
The technical shift sits at the heart of the issue. The 2026 rules remove the MGU-H and raise MGU-K output while battery capacity stays the same. That means larger energy flows on each lap. Drivers must decide where to harvest and where to deploy. Even in qualifying, they cannot use full power everywhere. The car’s hybrid system sets clear limits on when push is possible.
On track, the knock-on is easy to see. Lift-and-coast has crept into single laps. So has super-clipping, where drivers harvest hard in short bursts to recharge. These tactics change the line and speed into classic corners. At Suzuka, sections that once rewarded bravery now reward energy timing. The result is a lap that feels managed rather than attacked from start to finish.
The FIA has tried to stem that trend. It added a clause that reduces the maximum recoverable energy in qualifying, with the cap set at 7 MJ. Race running sits higher at around 8 MJ. Free practice and some modes allow higher figures. The aim is to stop extreme recovery and make qualifying a pure performance test again. The change is also meant to smooth power delivery so drivers do not face steep drop-offs late in the lap.
Team bosses and drivers have pushed the point. Stella has called for qualifying to be the short-term focus. Liam Lawson has voiced concern about how much planning a lap now needs. Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu warned about traffic as cars slow on out-laps to set up energy windows. Strategy for a single run has become complex, and that risks shaping the grid more than raw speed.
The sport will now review the first impacts of the 7 MJ cap. Teams, the FIA, and FOM plan to discuss the data in upcoming meetings. April talks in London will frame the next steps. The question is whether more technical or sporting tweaks are needed. The target is clear. Qualifying should reward outright speed and commitment, not battery tricks and lift points.