The governing body, the FIA, has written to the teams to warn them that engine mapping changes will be banned between qualifying and the race.
The ban will come in for this weekends European Grand Prix and will likely impact the front running pace as most rely on the settings to boost their one-lap performance.
Whilst engine mapping is common place in F1, Red Bull took it to the extreme last year, with many copying them for 2011.
The teams will no longer be allowed to change the setting between qualifying and the race, therefore forcing the teams to run the more fuel efficient map on Saturday.
![Alpine Managing Director Steve Nielsen [pictured with Executive Advisor Flavio Briatore] is stern in his belief Mercedes has acted correctly](https://www.motorsportweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Alpine-Steve-Nielsen-Flavio-Briatore-120x86.webp)
Many believe Red Bull will be impacted by the change the hardest, though the true order will only become clearer on Saturday.
This change will be followed by a total ban on exhaust blown diffusers at the next grand prix in Britain, which will have an even deeper impact on qualifying pace.
![Alpine Managing Director Steve Nielsen [pictured with Executive Advisor Flavio Briatore] is stern in his belief Mercedes has acted correctly](https://www.motorsportweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Alpine-Steve-Nielsen-Flavio-Briatore-350x250.webp)
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