McLaren’s Andrea Stella says qualifying must be F1’s top priority ahead of rule talks

McLaren boss Andrea Stella warns that qualifying must become Formula 1’s “priority number one” issue – second only to safety – as the sport’s 2026 power‑unit rules head into a decisive meeting next week.

Why it matters:

The 2026 regulations, which make the power unit heavily reliant on batteries, have turned qualifying into an energy‑management exercise. Fans and drivers lose the thrill of a pure speed showdown, and teams risk compromising the sport’s identity.

The details:

• Energy‑heavy power units: New hybrids limit usable energy per lap, forcing drivers to lift‑and‑coast to stay within the state‑of‑charge budget.
• Suzuka showcase: At the Japanese GP, classic high‑speed sections like Degner One turned into lift‑and‑roll zones, showing how battery limits mute driver skill.
• McLaren’s stance: Stella says qualifying should reward the driver who extracts the most grip, even at higher risk, not the car that simply conserves battery.
• Safety link: Lift‑and‑coast creates unpredictable speed differences at race starts, raising incident risk.

What's next:

Stella will push the FIA, team principals and the F1 commercial rights holders to tweak the 2026 formula – possibly by raising energy allowances or redefining qualifying’s energy cap – before the Miami Grand Prix. The outcome will shape whether future qualifying sessions retain their high‑octane drama or become another strategic exercise.