Drivers deliver mixed verdict on F1's 2026 regulation overhaul during pre-season testing
- Chloe Buckley
- Feb 17
- 4 min read
At pre-season testing in Bahrain, some of the drivers on the 2026 grid have given their first verdict on Formula One’s new regulations. With revised power units, updated chassis and significant aerodynamic changes, this year’s cars represent one of the sport’s biggest technical resets in history. After their opening laps in the new machinery, reactions from the paddock reveal some mixed thoughts.
Regulation changes in F1 are never a simple adjustment. The smallest of tweaks will change a driver's style, technique and strategy. These pre-season tests have moved past lap-times and are now more focused on relearning the cars and adjusting to the changes.
Reactions from the athletes have been mixed. Some are welcoming to the new era of F1 whereas others are apprehensive, questioning the complexity and the identity of the sport.
The former world champion, Max Verstappen, didn’t shy away from expressing his concerns on how these regulations had altered the character of the car.
"As a driver, the feeling is not very F1-like. It feels a bit more like Formula E on steroids,” Verstappen said, adding that the heavy focus on energy management means drivers cannot drive “flat out” in the way he believes defines the sport.
Verstappen added: "Driving wise, not so fun. But at the same time, I also know what is at stake with the team, our own engine, and seeing the excitement of the people. Of course, when I sit in the car, I will always give it my very best. They know that. But, excitement level's not so high, to drive."
Lando Norris on the other hand didn’t quite agree with Verstappen. Norris said that driving the MCL40 was “A lot of fun. I really enjoyed it,” before going on to hit back at Verstappen saying: “If he wants to retire, he can retire.
"Formula 1 changes all the time. Sometimes it's a bit better to drive, sometimes it's not as good to drive.
In terms of regulations, Norris spoke about the need to adapt and remain patient during the opening stages of the transition.
"It's different. You have to drive it in a different way and understand things differently and manage things differently, but I still get to drive cars and travel the world and have a lot of fun, so nothing to complain about."
"It's early days of a regulation that's meant to be a good amount slower. But if we fast forward to the end of this year and head to next year, we're going to be going a lot quicker by then.
Beyond the drivability of the car, a question of fan accessibility was brought up by Lewis Hamilton. The updated regulations add another level of complexity to an already very technical sport. Hamilton questioned whether fans will be able to fully grasp the changes.
He said: “None of the fans are going to understand it, I don’t think. It’s so complex. It’s ridiculously complex.
“I sat in a meeting the other day and they’re taking us through it and it’s like you need a degree to fully understand it all.”
The new rules mean that the power units are energy starved for most of the race, meaning that drivers need to maximise their energy recovery. This in turn alters their strategy and driving techniques.
Hamilton added: “If you look at Barcelona, for example, we’re doing 600 metres lift and coast on a qualifying lap. That’s not what racing is about. Here (in Bahrain), we’re not having to do that because there’s lots of breaking zones.
“We can’t recover enough battery power, so that’s why we have to go and rev the engines very, very, very high. So we’re going down to second and first (gear) in some places to try to recover that extra bit of power.”
Fernando Alonso also commented on the new challenges of the 2026 rules: "It is a little more complex, so it requires a little bit of thinking before jumping in the car or preparing an overtake.
Similar to Hamilton, Alonso commented on the energy recovery and the impact it will have during races.
"It's very limited by the FIA, so when you derate and you cut the energy, it has to be done at a certain rate of derating” He said.
"When you want to use the energy, there is not that much more energy that you can have compared to the cars in front, because we all have to deploy the maximum energy for one second at the corner exit.
"There are a couple of things that are really probably over-regulated. So in terms of freedom or how to use that energy in a clever way, it's going to be minimal differences because there is not much you can do, unfortunately."
The F1 pre-season testing is almost coming to an end, meaning we are even closer to the opening round in Australia. We still have another round of testing in Bahrain to take a look at over the next few days.
All 22 drivers on the grid will be in action from 18th-20th February, with the countdown to lights out in Melbourne firmly underway.
It’s fascinating to see the first reactions from drivers to the completely revamped F1 2026 rules during testing in Bahrain — and the opinions are very mixed! Some, like Max Verstappen, find the new cars less “true to F1,” with a bigger focus on energy management and complex strategy rather than flat‑out racing, which has surprised even champions.
At the same Mission Uncrossable App time, others, such as Lando Norris, are enjoying the updated cars and see them as a fresh challenge that opens up opportunities to make a difference.
It looks like the 2026 season is shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable in years: changes to engines, aerodynamics, and strategy are pushing drivers and fans alike…