GPDA chairman Alexander Wurz says the drivers' WhatsApp group is "exploding" with technical ideas and safety concerns as Formula 1, the FIA, the drivers, teams and power-unit manufacturers prepare April shutdown talks to revisit the 2026 energy-management demands after issues across the first three races. A large crash for Oliver Bearman at Suzuka and public calls from Carlos Sainz and Max Verstappen have added pressure for a review.
Speaking on the Lift and Roast podcast, Wurz said the GPDA chat, set up around 2015 or 2016, has been unusually active. He described a flood of emotions, potential solutions and detailed proposals from a new generation of drivers. The volume and depth of messages reflect how strongly the grid feels about the direction of the next power-unit era.
The urgency centers on the 2026 regulations. The rules target a roughly 50-50 split between electric power and the internal combustion engine. That balance forces drivers to spread energy use over a lap. It reduces how long they can push flat out. It also creates new management tasks in traffic and on corner exits, which drivers say can affect safety and the quality of racing.
Early-season problems have sharpened the tone. Bearman’s heavy accident at Suzuka drew attention, even as investigators continue to parse what caused it. Sainz and Verstappen have urged the FIA to listen to the drivers and to revisit the planned energy demands. They want rules that preserve attacking laps without adding safety risks tied to complex deployment targets.
Formal talks during the April shutdown are now on the calendar. F1, the FIA, the GPDA and the teams will sit with power-unit manufacturers to discuss potential adjustments. The agenda focuses on how to manage the split between battery and engine across a lap, and what that means for racing and driver workload.
Wurz said the drivers are not only airing worries in media interviews. They are workshopping technical ideas on the GPDA channel. The chat features arguments about tactics, deployment maps and how to frame changes around safety and the racing product. The goal is to turn that debate into clear proposals that regulators can test.
The GPDA, which represents almost the entire grid, has long acted as the conduit for driver feedback. Wurz’s description points to a step up in engagement. He portrayed a group that is sharing real engineering thoughts, not just broad statements. That tone matches a field that has grown up with hybrid systems and wants a sharper say in how the next step will feel behind the wheel.
The 2026 package aims to cut fuel use while keeping performance high. The drivers argue that the current energy-allocation targets could leave them juggling charge and engine power too often. They fear that could make overtaking harder to judge and increase the chance of speed deltas that catch rivals out. They are seeking a balance that lets them attack more often while meeting the sustainability goals.
The April meetings will test how far the stakeholders are willing to move. Any change must fit within the published framework and the wider cost and development timelines for manufacturers. The talks will weigh data from the opening races and feedback from the GPDA alongside simulation work and bench testing by the engine companies.
Wurz framed the moment as one for structured collaboration. He said the drivers want clearer, safer energy use that lets them race flat out more often. The WhatsApp chat has become their workshop. The April shutdown will show how much of that work makes it into the 2026 rulebook.