Cadillac driver Valtteri Bottas has revealed there is a Formula 1 drivers’ WhatsApp group where votes took place surrounding the 2026 regulations. Some drivers have criticised this season’s cars for being powered by hybrid engines and relying on more electrical energy than ever before.
DRS has also been replaced by ‘overtake mode’, and battery management has become a crucial part of racing, leading to far more overtaking; however, critics have said it is artificial. The concerns have since been addressed after a series of meetings between F1 stakeholders in April. Among the rule changes made include a reduced recharge in qualifying, increased super-clipping power to reduce duration, a boost cap of +150 kW, and aids to slow race starts.
Speaking to the media ahead of this weekend’s Miami Grand Prix, he said: “All the new adjustments to the rules – it makes sense. I think it’s in the right direction in terms of trying to have less gaps with the closing speeds, perhaps a little bit less aggressive clipping at the end of the straights, so that makes sense. I think it’s still quite a small step, but a step into the right direction.
“I mean, you could do a bigger change, but at the same time, I think what is tricky is that I understand that you don’t want to penalise any teams that have done well.
“You don’t want to make changes that would change the order of the teams or anything like this. Mid-season, doing big, big changes it’s quite tricky so I think it’s a good good first step.”
The Finn was later asked about the role the drivers played in changing the 2026 regulations before Miami. The 36-year-old has revealed that votes were taken in a group chat.
He added: “Yeah, so we, all drivers, we have this group chat on WhatsApp. So we’ve been communicating there quite a lot and especially after Japan.
“We did some votes and stuff like that, but everything is kind of aligned. I think everyone agrees it’s stepped in the right direction.
“But now we need to see these things in action. But I think all the drivers are aligned.
“It’s sometimes only a couple of drivers that speak to the FIA, but normally they speak on behalf of all of us, the GPDA (Grand Prix Drivers’ Association).”