First impressions are never innocent in Formula 1. Even less so when they come from the voices of its main protagonists. Although the first official Grand Prix of 2026 has yet to be contested, the new technical regulations are already at the center of debate following sharp criticism from Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, who have questioned the very essence of the new single-seaters. The Dutchman’s remark — “they’re like a Formula E on steroids” — has echoed uncomfortably through the paddock.
The comments come at a particularly sensitive moment, with the FIA and Liberty Media defending a framework designed to balance sustainability, spectacle, and cost control. However, what was meant to mark a new technological era has opened an emotional divide: drivers who feel that the visceral component of driving is being replaced by complex energy management that, in their view, dilutes the category’s historic DNA.
Energy management at the heart of the criticism
During testing in Bahrain, Verstappen was especially direct in describing the experience behind the wheel. For the four-time champion, the new car depends excessively on energy administration, to the point where every driver action — a downshift, a chosen gear, the precise braking moment — has a disproportionate impact on straight-line performance. “For me, this is not Formula 1,” he suggested, implying that the pure enjoyment of driving at the limit has been sidelined by meticulous calculations.
The Dutchman was even seen deliberately downshifting in unusual sections of the Sakhir circuit, a strategy aimed at recharging the battery rather than relying on the traditional lift and coast. The image symbolizes a new paradigm: less instinct, more optimization. Verstappen acknowledges the technical effort behind the regulations but warns that the level of excitement behind the wheel has diminished. At a mature stage of his career, he says he is also seeking enjoyment and does not rule out exploring other horizons if that spark fades under regulations designed to remain in place for the long term.
Hamilton and the complexity of a less intuitive F1
Along similar lines, Hamilton also voiced reservations, though with nuance. The Briton described a car with less aerodynamic load, lighter and more compact, even “fun” in certain aspects, at times comparable to a rally car. However, he emphasized that technical complexity has reached a level difficult to grasp even for the drivers themselves. “You need a university degree to understand it,” he joked after a technical meeting, highlighting the gap between engineering sophistication and the average fan’s understanding.
The seven-time world champion particularly questioned the exaggerated management required even in qualifying laps, where lift-and-coast phases can extend for hundreds of meters. For Hamilton, races should not depend on such intricate energy calculations. While other drivers such as Russell, Norris, and Antonelli have appeared more comfortable, the alignment between two generational reference points like Verstappen and Hamilton has sparked a storm that goes beyond performance: it questions what Formula 1 should fundamentally be.
