Bernie Ecclestone warns 2026 regulations could push Formula 1 closer to Formula E. Bernie Ecclestone criticises Formula 1’s new 2026 technical regulations.

Bernie Ecclestone has launched a strong criticism of Formula 1’s new technical regulations, warning that the sport is drifting closer to Formula E. It is a comparison that had already been made by Max Verstappen, whose remarks were followed by similar concerns from Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton. Many of the veterans of the Formula 1 paddock are not convinced by the new “management-focused” driving style imposed by the next-generation Power Units, which according to the former F1 supremo could ultimately “push fans away.”

Doubts surrounding the 2026 regulations continue to fuel concern among observers and insiders alike. The renewed emphasis on electrification at the top level of motorsport has created major engineering headaches and now risks backfiring on both the FIA and Liberty Media. The new single-seaters will need to be driven with greater restraint, with particular attention paid to battery deployment. However, there are fears that the energy store may discharge too quickly to guarantee close battles and the kind of on-track spectacle fans expect from Formula 1.

Potential corrective measures are already on the desk of the FIA, but sceptics are calling for a swift rethink. Whether that means a partial return to a more traditional internal combustion engine concept or a substantial overhaul of the hybrid architecture of the current Power Units, the concern remains the same: both long-time supporters and younger fans could grow tired of a Formula 1 perceived as lacking raw emotion and wheel-to-wheel intensity.

Bernie Ecclestone’s warning to Formula 1

“There will be great confusion at the beginning, we will have to learn again what Formula 1 really is,” Bernie Ecclestone explained to Sports.de. “These rules certainly do not favour Max Verstappen and his driving style, for example. The races will no longer be real Grands Prix. But this is the direction things are taking: more regulations, more rules for the drivers — don’t do this, don’t do that.”

The warning is crystal clear: “The DNA of Formula 1 is that of a Drivers’ World Championship, not an Engineers’ World Championship. Formula 1 is now more in competition with Formula E. Perhaps the fans like it, but I do not think so. The danger is that we will lose passionate supporters. I sincerely hope I am wrong.”