Above: Team Principals James Vols (Williams), Jonathan Wheatley (stakesawber), Andrea Stella (McLaren)
James Bowles, principal of the Williams team, says the development work done so far in the 2026 regulations has given him reasons for optimism, in contrast to the fears that some drivers have expressed about them.
The debate related to power units in 2026 has dominated headlines in recent weeks, but they are also linked to the cars themselves, which feature active aerodynamics to reduce drugs straight in relation to the performance of the power units. Charles Leclerc said his impression of the new regulations was “not particularly exciting” at the start of Bahrain Grampuri weekend, but said Bowles had a more positive view.
“We’re still developing cars and winter registrations are only in the first few months, so that’s early on,” Bowles said. “But I have not seen any harsh concerns coming out of the other corners.
“For us, the race actually looks pretty good at the moment. I think it’s pretty good from an audience’s point of view. I’m not too worried because waking up is better. The biggest thing I have is probably losing weight. That’s a difficult call for every team.
Vowles’ comments come after a meeting of key stakeholders related to Bahrain’s future power unit regulations. Andrea Stella, principal of the McLaren team, suggests that further changes to the rules may be needed, but shared Bowles’ optimism, but says the sport should focus on making the 2026 car successful.
“When we talk about future regulations, we haven’t started 2026. We’re already talking about something else,” Stella said. “We are here to protect the interests of the sport, so we want to call a sense of responsibility from all stakeholders.
“They may need some adjustments and adjustments, but that’s what we’re here. Let’s define the technical challenges exactly and solve them. Let’s work together to the benefits of all sports.
New stake team principal Jonathan Wheatley recently began his role ahead of the team’s evolution into Audi – says the representative, who was part of Friday’s meeting, is pleased with the talk that took place, but remains immovable with the hybrid powertrain moving forward.
“What I say is that today there was a very open, productive and collaborative discussion with all the key stakeholders, as the whole subject is being discussed at this time,” Wheatley said. “From what I understand, it’s the greatest benefit of Heart’s F1. That’s the basis of the entire conversation, and the feedback I had was very encouraging.
“To say we’re just talking about 2026, Audi is very clear about its position. The reason they got involved in the sport is the excitement around three pillars that we think are really important. The first pillar is a very efficient engine. The second is an advanced hybrid system, and of course, the sustainable fuel is its rock.”