Are supplies returning to F1? Brown pushes for yes: “It would add more strategy”

From one revolution to another Formula 1 enters a new era of its history this year, with an aerodynamic and power unit revolution that is awaited with a mixture of anxiety and curiosity by fans and also by the protagonists of the Circus themselves. But in a frenetic environment like that of F1, as soon as a change is approved, we immediately think about the next one. Starting from the 2010 season, in what is considered the pinnacle of world motorsport, refueling during the race was banned for cost and safety reasons. However, there are those who regret this element, which had become crucial in Grand Prix racing between the early 1990s and the first decade of the 2000s. In the context of current motorsport, which has profoundly changed from that of 30 years ago, thinking about reintroducing fuel topping up during the race is difficult, but even in the current paddock there is no shortage of supporters of this solution. ‘Old-fashioned’ pit stops “I think if we went back to refueling, it would be fantastic,” the American manager told talkSPORT radio in an interview recorded in December 2025. “This would add a new dimension to pit stops, but also a big strategic dimension,” Brown continued, “if you put refueling back in, the weight of the car makes a big difference. Would it be better to start with a more loaded car, to go longer? Or would it be better to start lighter, to get a better start? It would add a lot of dimensions to the strategy and I think it would be fascinating.”