Overview
- The Australia opener delivered heavy overtaking but drew driver and expert criticism that battery state, not racecraft, dictated many passes and created risky speed gaps.
- FIA sporting director Nikolas Tombazis said the intention is to review energy-management rules after Shanghai and evaluate prepared tools rather than act on a knee‑jerk basis.
- Options under discussion include changing super‑clipping limits, revising maximum electric power windows between 250 and 350 kW, and rebalancing recovery versus lift‑and‑coast.
- Drivers cited safety fears after large differentials and a Melbourne start scare, while voices like Toto Wolff and Stefano Domenicali stressed delivering a product that engages fans.
- On-track form adds urgency to the debate as Mercedes opened with a Russell–Antonelli one‑two, Ferrari showed strong race pace, and Aston Martin’s AMR26 weaknesses persisted in testing.