Formula 1 teams and racers appear ready to lobby for modifications to the sweeping and intricate new rules set for 2026 and the following years.
Formula 1 teams and racers appear ready to lobby for modifications to the sweeping and intricate new rules set for 2026 and the following years.
Team leaders Andrea Stella (McLaren) and James Vowles (Williams) on Friday indicated that the regulations disclosed by the FIA should merely be seen as a “draft.”
Even renowned driver Max Verstappen humorously suggested in Montreal that the proposed features such as boost buttons for overtaking and adjustable wings might be too whimsical, quipping, “Maybe they should add a few bananas we can throw out of the car?” as reported by Bild newspaper.
“At the moment it is still a bit of a question mark for many people as to how everything will develop. It definitely needs a few few more simulations,” commented the Red Bull racer.
George Russell from Mercedes suggested that the top speeds of the 2026 ultra-low-drag cars could hit unprecedented levels of 400kph on straights.
However, he cautioned, “And cornering speeds will drop massively. Is this what the fans really want to see?”
McLaren’s chief Stella is among those spearheading the initiative to unify the sport’s stakeholders to implement vital adjustments before the rules are finalized.
“I think from a power unit point of a view, likewise from a chassis point of a view, it’s time that all parties understand that they need to contribute to the success of the sport,” he stated.
James Vowles of Williams added, “At the moment, the way cars are in the draft version of the regulations, and we need to say draft, the cars are not fast enough in the corners and too fast in the straights.
The performance difference to a Formula 2 car could be as small as a few seconds. So I’m confident we’ll get to a better solution.
“I think what we’re talking about is how do we make this a product that is still the pinnacle of motorsports.”
Williams’ leading driver, Alex Albon, mentioned that he has consulted with the team’s simulator drivers, who have found that the 2026 cars are “extremely slow.”
“And it looks as if the engine formula will make everything around it extremely complicated. The whole thing is very technical and difficult for us to understand, so what must it be like for the fans?”
Aston Martin team leader Mike Krack echoes Albon’s concerns.
“I’m a bit scared that we will have driver press conferences speaking about all these technicalities that a lot of people will not understand and lose interest just because of that,” he explained.
“If we have different energy management from track to track or constraints on the car that makes one car maybe go to the front, one to the back, and then how do we explain this? So I think that is something that we really need to keep in mind.”
