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Sergio P\u00e9rez has warned that Formula 1 risks a serious accident if it does not address the speed differences produced by its 2026 power units. The Cadillac driver said he came close to a heavy collision with Liam Lawson while defending his position during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix and wants the regulations reviewed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
P\u00e9rez\u2019s concern centres on energy deployment. Two drivers can enter the same section of track with markedly different amounts of electrical power available. A car that is still deploying energy can close rapidly on one whose deployment has reduced, leaving its driver less time than expected to react.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Speaking after the race in Baku, P\u00e9rez said the first step was to examine what happened when he defended against Lawson. He described the difference in deployment and power between the cars as dangerous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI would have had a massive crash with Lawson,\u201d P\u00e9rez said. He added that he feared \u201csomething bad is going to happen soon\u201d unless the rules change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The warning was based on an incident P\u00e9rez says he narrowly avoided. He did not report a collision with Lawson. His point was that the speed difference itself had made the situation hazardous, even though both drivers continued in the race.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The 2026 cars depend much more heavily on electrical energy than the previous generation. How and where that energy is deployed can vary from one car to another, while its availability can also change over the course of a lap. P\u00e9rez argues that this makes it difficult to judge how fast a rival will arrive when defending on track.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He also pointed to differences between manufacturers. In P\u00e9rez\u2019s assessment, Mercedes and Red Bull currently have strong power units, creating situations in which a driver can be caught in a part of the lap where the deployment from his own car is much weaker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe speed differential is too dangerous,\u201d P\u00e9rez said. He expressed hope that the planned changes for 2027 would narrow that gap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The FIA has already agreed regulatory changes for 2027 and 2028 addressing energy management, including adjustments to combustion-engine output, fuel flow and electrical deployment. P\u00e9rez\u2019s warning concerns what drivers face during the remainder of 2026<\/strong>, before those future measures take effect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Baku offered another example of the problem, although it was a separate incident. During practice, Lewis Hamilton slowed ahead of Lawson after his Ferrari lost power at the end of a lap. Hamilton explained that he had expected the gap to Lawson to be sufficient<\/a>, but the other car closed much faster once his own speed dropped. The stewards reprimanded Hamilton for impeding Lawson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n P\u00e9rez\u2019s near miss happened during the Grand Prix while he was defending his position. Taken together, the two accounts show why drivers are asking for clearer expectations about the closing speeds of the new cars. They do not establish that the same technical event caused both situations.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSepang presents another test for the 2026 cars<\/h2>\n\n\n\n