Midway via the 2026 Components 1 season, the brand new technical laws – with a a lot higher emphasis on electrical energy and power administration – proceed to divide opinion amongst followers and drivers.
F1 says its fanbase has responded largely positively to the races to date, in line with its Components 1 Fan Voice programme. This consists of a bunch of 60,000 followers who price the leisure worth of every grand prix.
In accordance with F1, 60% of that group rated final yr’s races as “good” or “glorious”, whereas that determine has risen to 66% in 2026.
Curiously, regardless of all of the power administration points, F1 says Spa’s ranking elevated by 24%, whereas the Hungarian Grand Prix – which many hardcore followers thought of probably the most natural-looking race of the primary half of the season – obtained precisely the identical ranking because it did a yr in the past.
In accordance with F1’s personal information, solely the British Grand Prix obtained a considerably decrease ranking than final yr. F1 attributes that to the race ending behind the security automobile and to the truth that the 2025 British Grand Prix is described as “very eventful”.
Drivers, nevertheless, have been way more essential. Max Verstappen instantly labelled the present laws “Formula E on steroids” during winter testing, and has since been backed up by a lot of his fellow drivers.
Max Verstappen, Pink Bull Racing
Picture by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Pictures by way of Getty Pictures
Notably at energy-starved circuits similar to Silverstone and Spa, drivers discovered the 2026 vehicles painful to drive. Oscar Piastri additionally pointed to the ability items’ “self-learning parts”, which means drivers might be caught out by “forward-thinking algorithms”.
Talking throughout a media name initially of the summer season break, F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali however confused that the collection as a complete is in a really sturdy place.
“I feel the state of affairs that we live immediately is admittedly nice,” Domenicali stated. “The championship is admittedly on the highest when it comes to folks following, folks which might be coming to the monitor and other people which might be, in any case, new or outdated followers appreciating the success of the issues we’re doing.”
Requested by Autosport whether or not the criticism from drivers had been stronger than F1 anticipated initially of the yr, the Italian responded: ” me, we’re not right here to place the tape on the mouth of anybody. I imply, the fantastic thing about our sport is that everybody can have an opinion, however the opinion is an opinion.
“There’s somebody that has the obligation to have a line. There are specific drivers that desire, after all, sure issues. I feel that within the course of we’ve highlighted the must be constructive in that respect.”
Domenicali stated it is very important perceive how the FIA and F1 ended up on this place.
When discussions concerning the present laws first started, the automotive business was clearly pushing in direction of electrification. To keep away from ending up with solely two engine producers, the collection needed to transfer in that course to some extent.
Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac Racing
Picture by: Bryn Lennon / Components 1 by way of Getty Pictures
“I’m going again to the factor that this transformation was linked to a motive, and that was an important motive,” Domenicali stated. “In any other case, we’d be right here to speak about our sport, one other sport. In order that has been adjusted.”
Domenicali confused that drivers’ feedback want to stay constructive, as in his view no one advantages from pure negativity. That’s the reason he prefers to debate such issues behind closed doorways, one thing he has not too long ago executed once more with Verstappen.
“I desire to debate issues [between] 4 partitions to seek out options,” he added. “However as I stated, I feel that the extra you might be vocal on sure issues which might be out of the scheme, the extra the negativity is just not on the game. It is changing into on the non-public aspect. So, I feel that everybody understood that.”
Lastly, Domenicali emphasised that as F1’s CEO he has to take a look at the larger image – not solely the criticism from drivers, but in addition what’s greatest for F1 as a complete, together with from a industrial perspective.
“In that respect, you realize very nicely how a lot I respect the jewel which might be our drivers. However after all, they should perceive that there’s one path we have to take collectively,” he stated.
“And the followers are all the time a precedence on prime of everybody, even me. They [the drivers] can have a private opinion, however I’ve the obligation to make a abstract of what’s the greatest for the game.
“However I feel that the state of affairs may be very sturdy, very stable, with all of the stakeholders immediately. So, we have to look forward and make it possible for the game is rising, as I stated, all collectively in the precise manner.”
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