Charles Leclerc believes that the new 2026 Formula 1 cars do not feel “artificial” at all, despite several drivers having strongly criticized the latest revision of the regulations.
This year’s single-seaters are completely different compared to the past: the chassis is more agile and features reduced aerodynamic downforce, while the power unit relies more heavily on electrical energy, with an almost 50:50 split between electric power and the internal combustion engine. All of this has inevitably changed the flow of races, leading to a greater number of wheel-to-wheel battles due to the “yo-yo” nature of the cars.
During the Chinese Grand Prix held last Sunday, there were numerous battles between Turn 14 and the following straight, with many drivers overtaking each other repeatedly and extending their fights over the course of entire laps.
Max Verstappen is certainly not a fan of these changes, and he recently stated that anyone who appreciates this new regulation “doesn’t understand racing.” On the other hand, drivers like Lando Norris, Carlos Sainz, and Esteban Ocon have expressed similar views among themselves.
It is precisely the increased reliance on battery management that few drivers seem to enjoy. However, those fighting at the front—namely the drivers from Mercedes and Ferrari—have still shown support for the new regulations: “I like it and from inside the car it doesn’t feel that artificial,” said Charles Leclerc. “Of course, there are moments when overtakes feel fake. Every time someone makes a mistake with the battery and completely drains it, there is a huge speed difference.”
“However, it seems that we are all gradually converging toward an understanding of where we should not go and where we can afford to take some risks. This creates very interesting overtaking points, and I think we saw proof of that today.”
“I really enjoyed today,” said the Monegasque driver at the end of the tough but fair battle he had on track with his teammate Lewis Hamilton. “If you asked the team, I’m not sure they would answer the same way. But I really had fun. Honestly, these cars are really enjoyable to race, and yes, it was a very good race. In the end, Lewis was simply stronger and I’m happy for his podium. Of course, I’m disappointed not to have achieved it myself, but I know I gave everything and, in the end, Lewis was just stronger this weekend.”
“It was a very tough but fair battle, which is great. It was also a strategic battle over who would make the move at the final corner, with both of us braking very early to manage energy properly. It was really fun.”
Although Charles Leclerc speaks positively about the new regulations, the Ferrari driver still believes that qualifying should be improved, as it no longer rewards drivers pushing at the limit as much as before: “They are not like the cars with very high downforce that we had in the past. There are some aspects that we obviously need to look at to make them a bit more worthy of Formula 1 because it feels like something is missing. However, I know that the FIA is working on it, and hopefully they will find a solution for this.”
The sport continues to refine the 2026 technical framework and the balance between strategic energy management and raw mechanical grip remains a hot topic in the paddock. While the “yo-yo” effect has its detractors, the increased frequency of overtaking suggests that the FIA’s goal of closer racing is being met, even if the traditional qualifying thrill requires a bit more fine-tuning to satisfy the purists.
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