FIA Press Releases
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Ogier leads Toyota top-five lockout after commanding Friday in Canarias
Sport newsThe nine-time FIA World Rally Champion won four of the day’s five full-length special stages to build an 8.9-second overnight lead over team-mate Oliver Solberg. Sami Pajari completed the provisional podium, a further 7.0 seconds behind, with Elfyn Evans just 0.5 seconds further back in fourth.
Championship leader Takamoto Katsuta completed the top five, 29.7 seconds off the lead, as Toyota’s GR Yaris Rally1 cars set the pace throughout a demanding day of smooth, fast and highly committed asphalt stages.
Ogier, returning this weekend after missing Croatia Rally, moved into the lead on Friday’s opening Valleseco - Artenara test and controlled the pace from there. He was fastest on both passes of Mogán - La Aldea, as well as the afternoon run through Tejeda - San Mateo, before the day concluded with a short super special inside Gran Canaria Stadium.
“It has been a good day,” said Ogier after SS8. “I am starting to enjoy this a lot now.”
Solberg was the only driver to beat Ogier on one of Friday’s full-length stages, edging the Frenchman by 0.1 seconds on the second pass of Valleseco - Artenara. The 24-year-old acknowledged that the afternoon had not been straightforward, but his pace was sufficient to climb from fourth at midday to second overall by the end of the day.
Pajari also gained ground late in the day, matching Katsuta’s fastest time on the final stadium stage to move ahead of Evans into third. The Finn had earlier admitted that set-up changes had not produced the improvement he had hoped for, but remained firmly in contention for a podium finish.
Evans, meanwhile, ended the day searching for further performance after showing flashes of pace but being unable to consistently match Ogier and Solberg.
“I’m not super happy as we wanted more from the day and Oliver and Seb have been faster,” said Evans. “We need to find some improvements.”
Katsuta, who had led overnight after Thursday’s opening stage, struggled for front-end confidence during the afternoon and slipped back to fifth. However, he ended the day on a positive note by sharing the fastest time on SS8.
“At least something positive from the day,” he said. “I really struggled today.”
Hyundai Motorsport endured a more challenging Friday, with Dani Sordo the highest-placed of its i20 N Rally1 crews in sixth overall on his first FIA World Rally Championship appearance of the season. The Spaniard ended the day 52.0 seconds from the lead, 2.8 seconds ahead of Adrien Fourmaux, while Thierry Neuville was eighth after struggling to find confidence in the front of his car through the island’s long, committed corners.
M-Sport Ford’s Josh McErlean held ninth overnight after a consistent day in his Puma Rally1, while team-mate Jon Armstrong slipped to 11th following an eventful Friday that included a trip down an escape road on SS4, wheel rim damage on SS7 and a transmission issue on the final stadium stage.
“It has not been our day,” said Armstrong. “On the tyre warm-up on the way to the stage we broke something and we had to do it with front-wheel drive only. We just had to get around.”
In WRC2, Yohan Rossel completed the overall top 10 and led the category after a strong day aboard his Lancia Ypsilon HF Rally2. The Frenchman ended Friday 22.0 seconds ahead of Alejandro Cachón, with younger brother Léo Rossel third in class.
“It was a great day for the team to have this feeling in the car,” said Yohan Rossel. “It was incredible.”
Saturday is the longest day of Rally Islas Canarias, with crews set to contest two passes of Maspalomas, Arucas - Firgas - Teror and Moya - Gáldar.
World Rally ChampionshipWRCWRC
SEASON 2026Sport1SportWorld Rally ChampionshipWRCSEASON 2026WRC00Friday, April 24, 2026 - 10:38pmFriday, April 24, 2026 - 10:38pm -
Miami Grand Prix Free Practice 1 extended to 90 mins
Sport newsAs a result, the session will now run from 12:00 to 13:30 local time. All other track sessions planned before FP1 will also move forward by 30 minutes.
This decision has been taken in recognition of the gap since the last Grand Prix, the recently announced regulatory and technical adjustments, and the fact that as the Miami Grand Prix operates under the Sprint format which reduces the amount of practice time available over the course of the weekend.
FIA Formula One World ChampionshipFormula 1F1
SEASON 2026SportCircuit1SportFIA Formula One World ChampionshipCircuitF1SEASON 2026Formula 100Thursday, April 23, 2026 - 3:00pmThursday, April 23, 2026 - 3:00pm -
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem Meets With Montenegrin Prime Minister Milojko Spacjić in Tivat
FIA newsFIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem met today with Montenegrin Prime Minister Milojko Spajić to strengthen cooperation between the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) and Montenegro. The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss the FIA’s leadership across both motorsport and mobility, and to explore areas of collaboration aligned with Montenegro’s national priorities.
A key focus was Montenegro’s ambition to become a regional leader in road safety. President Mohammed Ben Sulayem shared how the FIA helps countries use data to better understand accidents, improve roads, and make driving safer. This includes global tools like the FIA Road Safety Index (RSI), which helps track and measure progress using cutting-edge AI. Both leaders agreed that using data and new technology is essential to making real improvements for everyday road users.
Motorsport and tourism were key topics of the meeting. The discussion touched on how the continued growth of Montenegro’s motorsport can help boost the economy, bring more visitors to Montenegro, and raise the country’s international profile, while ensuring events are run safely and sustainably.
The Prime Minister and President also spoke about the importance of keeping people safe online through the FIA’s United Against Online Abuse (UAOA) campaign. They highlighted the need to promote respect and protect users, especially young people and those involved in sport, from online abuse.
H.E. Mohammed Ben Sulayem, FIA President said:“Montenegro is a country with clear ambition to lead in road safety. We are delighted to work with them to help bring that ambition to life by combining innovation, data, and collaboration.
“Together with theAuto-moto Association of Montenegro, we will work to deliver safer roads, more efficient mobility systems, and continued growth in motorsport, helping to build a future that is safer, more sustainable, and more connected for all.”
The FIA Region I Spring Meeting is currently being hosted in Budva by the Auto-moto Association of Montenegro. From 21-23 April, representatives from 102 FIA Member Clubs across Europe, the Middle East and Africa have united for three days of collaboration, innovation and knowledge sharing, discussing and sharing priorities to advance safe and sustainable mobility for road users and motorsport for fans.
The FIA Member Club structure forms the backbone of the federation’s governance and operations, with each full Member Club holding voting rights across the FIA’s elections and regulatory decisions.
ENDS
For media enquiries, please contact:
- Geri Sherwin, Director of Presidential & Mobility Communications: gsherwin@fia.com
- Joe Kidd, Presidential Communications Officer: jkidd@fia.com
The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) is the governing body for world motor sport and the federation for mobility organisations globally. It is a non-profit organisation committed to driving innovation and championing safety, sustainability and equality across motor sport and mobility.
Founded in 1904, with offices in Paris, London and Geneva, the FIA brings together 245 Member Organisations across five continents, representing millions of road users, motor sport professionals and volunteers. It develops and enforces regulations for motor sport, including seven FIA World Championships, to ensure worldwide competitions are safe and fair for all.
MembersFIA
FIA1FIAFIAMembers00Wednesday, April 22, 2026 - 4:04pmWednesday, April 22, 2026 - 4:04pm -
Unleashing GEN4: A new era of high-performance, sustainable electric racing begins
FIA newsLE CASTELLET, FRANCE. Tuesday 21 April 2026:Today, the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) and Formula E unleashed the GEN4 car on track in its debut run in front of a select audience at Circuit Paul Ricard in the South of France, signalling the beginning of a new era for electric motor sport. This all-new next-generation machine is the car that will be further developed and then raced by the teams and manufacturers in the 2026/27 Season of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.
Capable of reaching speeds in excess of 335kph, 0-100kph in approximately 1.8 seconds, and 0-200kph in just 4.4 seconds - 1.5 seconds faster than its predecessor - GEN4 will deliver 50% more power in race mode than the current GEN3 Evo race car. In ATTACK MODE, GEN4 produces up to 600kW of power, a 71% increase in base output over GEN3 Evo, delivering performance that pushes the limits of electric racing. Featuring two different aero configurations for pure performance in qualifying and energy management in the race, GEN4 is also the only single-seater race car with permanent all-wheel drive.
The on-track demonstration underlined GEN4’s pace in real conditions, with overtake laps on its GEN1, GEN2 and GEN3 predecessors highlighting the dramatic step forward in innovation and sheer performance. With racing starting from the 2026/27 Season later this year, GEN4 promises to deliver the fastest-ever lap time seen by a Formula E car: with the current mule car being at least five seconds per lap faster compared to the GEN3 Evo, and an average of 10 seconds faster than the GEN3 car in qualifying mode, we trust the manufacturers committed to the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship to push the performance even further.
As the only all-electric FIA World Championship, GEN4 is both at the pinnacle of motor sport innovation and a testbed for future mobility. It is also central to the series’ track-to-road philosophy, with 600kW charging and high-efficiency motor development feeding into next-generation EV technology. With more freedom given to manufacturers to implement their in-house technologies on electronical control systems, GEN4 is expected to be even more road relevant.
In addition to outright performance, sustainability remains a central pillar of innovation for GEN4, which will feature at least 20% recycled materials across key components. Its tyres are made from 65% natural and recycled materials, including 30% certified natural rubber, and the battery contains no rare earth minerals.
H.E. Mohammed Ben Sulayem,President, Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA)said: “The new GEN4 Formula E car marks asignificant step forward for electric racing, setting a new global benchmark for performance, innovation, and sustainability.
“It is not simply just a fast car, it is a statement of intent about the future of this technology. I am proud that the FIA and its partners in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship are leading this vision.
“Collaboration has been central to the development of this car, and it will continue to be at the heart of a new era for the championship defined by greater performance, road relevance, and excitement. We are redefining what is possible alongside some of the world’s biggest automotive manufacturers using the laboratory of motorsport.”
Jeff Dodds, CEO, Formula E, said: “GEN4 isn’t just a car, it's a bold declaration of our ambition. Seeing what it can do on track for the first time is a real milestone for Formula E - we are now delivering performance levels that were thought impossible for electric vehicles just five years ago. The step up in performance is immediately clear, from the speed and power to the way it delivers on track, and there was a genuine buzz among everyone who witnessed it. This is a hugely exciting moment for the Championship as we head into the upcoming 2026/27 Season, and a clear signal of where we are headed.
“Thisis just the beginning, as its refinement is now in the hands of our manufacturers - Porsche, Jaguar, Stellantis, Nissan, Lola Cars and Mahindra - to push development to even higher limits of performance ahead of its racing debut later this year. GEN4 isn’t just an evolution, it’s a step-change in innovation and performance that will redefine motorsport for years to come.”
GEN4 will also introduce state-of-the-art safety standards. Its chassis and battery have gone through crash tests with much higher loads and deceleration levels. It also includes a wider cockpit for increased hand clearance and the introduction of a power-assisted steering system, especially for steering rotational speed mitigation during impacts. This will help to level the playing field and re-engineer the sport for inclusivity at the top level.
The demonstration in Le Castellet saw all the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship teams and manufacturers in attendance, including Porsche, Jaguar, Nissan, Stellantis, Mahindra and Lola Cars. The takeaway: GEN4 is not just faster, it’s a leap across generations, showing how far electric racing has come in just twelve seasons since Formula E’s inception and a declaration of the direction the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship is headed.
For fans, it unlocks a new level of spectacle - closer racing, higher speeds, and more dramatic on-track action than ever before - further cementing Formula E’s position at the forefront of innovation and performance in global sport.
ABB FIA Formula E World ChampionshipFormula EAll fia sportFIA
SEASON 2026-2027FIACircuit1FIAABB FIA Formula E World ChampionshipCircuitAll fia sportFIASEASON 2026-2027Formula E00Tuesday, April 21, 2026 - 3:56pmTuesday, April 21, 2026 - 3:56pm -
Refinements to the 2026 FIA Formula 1 regulations agreed by all stakeholders
Sport newsThe final proposals presented during today’s meeting were the result of a series of consultations over the past few weeks between the FIA, technical representatives and extensive input from F1 drivers.
Discussions around potential adjustments were based on data gathered from the first three events of the 2026 season.
The 2026 regulations were developed and agreed in close partnership with the FIA, teams, OEMs, Power Unit Manufacturers, and FOM. Changes to the regulations were discussed against the backdrop of this collaboration.
The proposals agreed today were as follows and will be implemented from Miami apart from the race start changes that will be tested in Miami and adopted following feedback and analysis.
Qualifying - promoting performance
Adjustments to energy management parameters, including a reduction in maximum permitted recharge from 8MJ to 7MJ, aimed at reducing excessive harvesting and encouraging more consistent flat-out driving. This change targets a maximum superclip duration reduced to approximately 2-4 seconds per lap.
Peak superclip power increased to 350 kW, previously being 250kW, further reducing the time spent recharging, and reducing driver workload on energy management. This will also be applied in Race conditions.
The number of events where alternative lower energy limits may apply has been increased from 8 to 12 races, allowing greater adaptation to circuit characteristics.
Race - improved safety and consistency of performance
The maximum power available through the Boost in race conditions is now capped at +150 kW (or the car’s current power level at activation if higher) limiting sudden performance differentials.
MGU-K deployment is maintained at 350 kW in key acceleration zones (from corner exit to braking point, including overtaking zones) but will be limited to 250 kW in other parts of the lap.
These measures are designed to reduce excessive closing speeds while maintaining overtaking opportunities and overall performance characteristics.
Race starts - enhanced safety mechanisms
A new “low power start detection” system has been developed, capable of identifying cars with abnormally low acceleration shortly after clutch release.
In such cases, an automatic MGU-K deployment will be triggered to ensure a minimum level of acceleration and mitigate start-related risks without introducing any sporting advantage.
An associated visual warning system is being introduced, activating flashing lights (rear and lateral) on affected cars to alert following drivers.
A reset of the energy counter at the start of the formation lap has also been implemented to correct a previously identified system inconsistency.
Wet conditions – improving safety and visibility
Tyre blanket temperatures for intermediate tyres have been increased following driver feedback in order to improve initial grip and tyre performance in wet conditions.
Maximum ERS deployment will be reduced, limiting torque and improving car control in low-grip conditions.
The rear light systems have been simplified, with clearer and more consistent visual cues to improve visibility and reaction time for following drivers in poor conditions.
These final proposals will now be put before a FIA WMSC e-vote with a view to implementation before the Miami Grand Prix on May 3, except for the race starts proposals which will be tested and analysed during that weekend.
H.E. Mohammed Ben Sulayem, FIA President, said: “I would like to praise everyone across the Formula 1 ecosystem - the FIA staff, teams, drivers and the Power Unit Manufacturers - for the constructive and collaborative work carried out in a very short space of time.
While we have faced an unexpected gap in the calendar due to circumstances beyond the sport, all parties have remained fully committed to acting in the best interests of Formula One. More than ever, the drivers have been at the heart of these discussions, and I would like to thank them for their valuable input throughout this process.
Safety and sporting fairness remain the FIA’s highest priorities. These changes have been introduced to address the issues identified in the opening events and to ensure the continued integrity and quality of the competition.
We now look forward to the rest of what promises to be an exciting 2026 season.”
FIA Formula One World ChampionshipFormula 1F1
SEASON 2026SportCircuit1SportFIA Formula One World ChampionshipCircuitF1SEASON 2026Formula 100Monday, April 20, 2026 - 4:29pmMonday, April 20, 2026 - 4:29pm