FIA Told to Make Late F1 Rule Change After Issue Spotted in Barcelona Testing
Formula 1's governing body, the FIA, have been urged to make a last-minute rule change ahead of the 2026 season.
Ahead of 2026, the sport's technical regulations underwent a major revamp.
Cars are set to be smaller, lighter and more agile, which will likely provide closer on-track battles.
Meanwhile, the power unit and aerodynamics have also been changed, with more reliance on battery power.
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Last month, 10 of the 11 teams took part in a private testing week held at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, with Williams the only ones missing due to project-related delays.
Although timings are largely irrelevant at this stage, the fastest time of the week was set by Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton, who clocked a 1:16.3.
Hamilton was followed by ex-Mercedes teammate George Russell, whose best time was 1:16.445. Reigning world champion Lando Norris was third with a 1:16.554.
Following the testing week in Barcelona, the FIA have been urged to make a late change to the regulations.
As reported by F1 Oversteer, car designer and technical expert Gary Anderson has pointed out one issue with the new generation of F1 cars.
According to the report, teams have found a way to minimise in-wash, which is the opposite of out-wash (airflow that disturbs the cars following behind).
It has been claimed that a number of cars have managed to 'minimise inwash with attachments to the car in the barge board area and small slots in the barge boards'.
Anderson explained on The Race F1 Podcast: "I mean, this is a typical example in my book of the regulations being written with a little gap being left in there that teams have found.
"Nobody has got a truckload of spares yet or developments or anything. And this is the time when the FIA could step in quite quickly and say, excuse me, chaps, but that surface has to be impervious."
He continued: "It could be done now, and basically it’s a roll of duct tape away from being an impervious surface. Just tape up those slots, and that’s what you’ve got. If you can’t make new bits, you still have to comply.
"That’s the sort of thing that can be done this early in the season. And to be honest, if they really are adamant that they want to try and minimise this outwash and create better racing because they believe that’s the reason that racing is not as good as it should be, now’s the time to act.
"Not halfway through the season or any point in time when all the teams have got spares lying around them, and they’ve done a lot of development time into certain areas. Do it now, get it done with. Upset a few people, but that’s life."
Marcus Chan