Stefano Domenicali changed his mind about F1 regulations after Bearman's crash

Bearman’s 50G impact concern

Ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix, both Stefano Domenicali and the FIA were publicly confident about Formula 1’s new 2026 regulations. The governing body maintained that the racing was functioning as intended and resisted calls for early intervention.

Oliver Bearman’s 50G crash at Suzuka sent shockwaves through the paddock and sparked fresh debate over whether the new-generation cars are pushing the limits of safety. While Bearman was cleared at the medical centre and sustained no fractures, the severity of the impact triggered alarm among fans and observers.

Domenicali and FIA initially dismissed concerns

Speaking on the Nailing the Apex podcast, F1 journalist Julianne Cerasoli revealed that prior to Suzuka she had spoken directly with Domenicali and FIA representatives about the state of the regulations.

Their stance was clear.

“No, the racing is fine. There are no issues with the racing. We are only going to address qualifying because qualifying is absolutely ridiculous. For racing, we just need people to be more adjusted to the regulations, and all the stuff that you’re seeing that maybe isn’t right — it’s because nobody is optimising anything. So let’s wait until Hungary.”

According to Cerasoli, the plan was to delay any meaningful regulatory response until after the Hungarian Grand Prix. However, she suggested Bearman’s accident may have altered that timeline.

“Now, after what happened with Bearman, I think they will do something for Miami.”

The implication is clear: what was previously viewed as teething trouble may now be treated with greater urgency.

Proposed tweaks offer "minimal gains"

Despite the pressure, immediate solutions may not be straightforward.

Cerasoli reported that the FIA had been exploring adjustments aimed at addressing harvesting limits and deployment issues under the new rules. The objective was to improve how energy could be controlled throughout a lap.

However, those efforts appear to have stalled.

“That’s one thing they’ve been saying is, ‘We want to be able to control it all the way around the lap.’ But it wasn’t really designed for that. It wasn’t meant to be used as an ad nauseam thing.”

ESPN’s Nate Saunders added that FIA simulations showed the proposed changes delivered minimal gains at most venues, if not no change at all.

In other words, even where adjustments were technically possible, their impact was negligible.

Drivers growing frustrated

The lack of effective short-term fixes is unlikely to ease tensions within the paddock. Several drivers have already voiced a desire to return to full combustion engines in light of their experience under the new framework.

For now, though, meaningful change may not arrive in Miami — and perhaps not even before Hungary.

Bearman walked away from Suzuka physically unharmed. But politically and technically, his crash may prove far more consequential. The coming rounds will reveal whether the FIA maintains its original confidence — or is forced into a more decisive rethink of Formula 1’s new era.