Formula 1's key stakeholders are meeting on Monday with the aim of deciding on what potential tweaks to make to the regulations after a series of discussions across the sport in recent weeks.
Discussions about the early impact of F1's all-new 2026 chassis and engine regulations - which notably include a near-50-50 split between internal combustion and electrical power - were always planned after the season's opening races.
They were brought under renewed focus after last month's Japanese Grand Prix when there was fresh driver criticism of energy-management requirements during qualifying at Suzuka and then a big crash for Oliver Bearman in the race amid a significant speed differential with the car he was following.
A series of meetings have taken place since then, during F1's enforced April break, to discuss what potential alterations could be made to energy management in particular, with the FIA and F1 involved in discussions with technical figures from teams and engine manufacturers, while there have also been talks with the sport's drivers.
Monday's meeting features stakeholders from F1, the FIA, teams and engine manufactures and is set to agree what plans are put forward for final approval to a World Motor Sport Council e-vote. The F1 season resumes at the Miami Grand Prix next week.
In a social media post ahead of Monday's meeting, FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem said talks on the matter had hitherto proved "constructive and collaborative". He also thanked drivers for providing "invaluable input on adjustments which they feel should be made, particularly in the areas of energy management to ensure safe, fair and competitive racing".
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has warned that the approach to altering the rules should be made with "a scalpel and not with a baseball bat".
Speaking to the media on Monday morning ahead of the key meeting, the Austrian said: "I must really say that the discussions that have been taking place between the group of drivers, the FIA, Formula 1, and the teams have been constructive, and we all share the same objectives.
"It's how can we improve the product, make it out-and-out racing, and look at what can we improve in terms of safety, but act with a scalpel and not with a baseball bat. So, I think we're coming to good solutions that we're going to ratify hopefully today, in order to evolve, because we're only three races in.
"And, in a way, we need to learn from the past, where sometimes decisions were made in an erratic way, and then we overshot and realised it wasn't good, because we are custodians of this sport. And in that respect, I'm carefully optimistic that we're going to improve the racing whilst we align the aforementioned objectives, whilst keeping the racing really good."
Speaking last week about the alterations drivers wanted to see, Mercedes' George Russell, who is also a director of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association, said: "I think the two headline points are flat-out qualifying, so no lift and coast, and then reducing the closing speeds.
"The closing speed of the Bearman-Colapinto crash was twofold. One, of course Bearman was on his boost button and giving himself 350kW, so he had an abundance of power in an abnormal part of the track. And, on the flip side, Colapinto used his boost on the main straight the half a lap before, and was low on his battery, so he had a lack of power.
"So that is, at least in my eyes, where these closing speed differences are coming from and I think the FIA are definitely very much aware of that. From the drivers' perspective, just looking to reduce that closing speed in abnormal areas, and especially in non-SM [Straight Mode]. If there's a straight that isn't an SM mode, that means it's because it's a corner and of course the Bearman crash was in a non-SM part of the track. So I think we're all aligned on those points."
And while aware there will need to be an element of "compromise" on what is changed given the cars are currently set up to deliver the quickest lap times, Russell believes there are some obvious improvements that can be made in the short term - such as increasing the permitted rate the battery can harvest when a driver is on full throttle, known as 'super clipping'.
"There's a lot of low-hanging fruit," added Russell. "For example, the minus 350 kilowatts super clip is a no-brainer, and that already in itself is going to avoid a lot of lift-and-coast, having the minus 350 kilowatt super clip.
"And there's other small parts of the regulation that say you can only de-rate the engine at a certain rate. So on a very short straight, there isn't enough time to go from 350 kilowatts to a super clip because the straight is too short. Some small changes around these regulations will have a major improvement for the overall driving experience."
Russell added: "I think the FIA have been in a lot of comms with a handful of drivers, and that's been sort of collective.
"And at least from the FIA technical standpoint, it's probably the closest relationship we've had with them in numerous years. So that's very positive to see."
Monday's meeting will include bosses from F1's 11 teams and, in a Q&A released on his team's website last week, McLaren's Andrea Stella said he was encouraged by the constructive nature of the talks so far.
"Meetings are currently taking place between all parties involved, including the drivers who are, ultimately, the stars of this sport, with the aim of determining, under the guidance of the FIA, what and how things can be improved.
"I am thinking, for example, at how we can ensure that driving 'flat-out' in Qualifying is something properly rewarding for the drivers, but also looking at things with the perspective of safety at how we can make starts and close racing safer.
[On] Monday, we will meet with the FIA and F1 to decide how to implement these potential adjustments. In any case, the sense of responsibility and spirit of collaboration that everyone is demonstrating represent the best response that Formula 1 can give at this moment."
Formula 1 returns on May 1-3 with the Miami Grand Prix, the season's second Sprint weekend, live on Your Site F1.
