The new era of Formula 1 arrived with ambitious promises. Smaller, lighter and more aggressive cars, designed to be more agile on track and to encourage overtaking. On top of that comes a deep technical revolution, with power units that are almost 50 percent electric and powered by CO₂-neutral fuels. On paper, it was a perfect mix of spectacle, sustainability and close competition. But a real nightmare could become reality for Charles Leclerc and Ferrari in the 2026 Formula 1 season.
After the first kilometres completed during the Barcelona tests, the first doubts are already starting to emerge. It was only a shakedown and nobody yet knows the true competitive picture that will appear in Melbourne, but the early feedback from drivers is already raising important questions about the future of the category.
The issue was brought into the spotlight by Esteban Ocon, who revealed that his Haas team has already experienced something new and potentially controversial. Not only energy management during races, which was expected with the new hybrid power units, but lift and coast even during qualifying simulations.
F1 2026 cars and the lift and coast nightmare
“In qualifying runs we have to lift and coast,” the French driver explained. “At first it felt strange, but we had already tried it in the simulator. After one lap it became much more natural. Now it almost feels strange not to do it, because we use it so often and it becomes part of your driving style.”
It is a concept that could surprise many fans. Qualifying has always been the moment when drivers push to the absolute limit, without compromises. The idea of having to lift off the throttle to manage energy even on a single flying lap risks changing the very perception of the spectacle.
Esteban Ocon tried to explain why this approach is, paradoxically, the most effective solution. “If you stay fully on the throttle, at the end of the straight you have to brake much more aggressively. With lift and coast everything is smoother, and in the end it even feels faster. It has become natural, because it’s the quickest way to drive.”
However, the central question remains. Is it still Formula 1 if drivers have to manage energy even during the symbolic moment of maximum performance? It is a question that will inevitably divide fans, especially those more attached to tradition. The Haas driver, however, has no doubts.
“If you find another category with faster cars, let me know,” he replied. “As drivers we always have to optimise the tools we have. If this is the fastest way, then it’s the right one. In the car, it’s not complicated.”
According to Esteban Ocon, the change is simply part of the natural evolution of the category. “When you start in karts nobody tells you to lift, but I always enjoyed it anyway. It’s still Formula 1,” he concluded. “Maybe it won’t be like this at every circuit, we’ll find out. But in Barcelona, for us, it was the best solution.”
The first signals of the new era therefore point towards a Formula 1 that is more complex to interpret, where management becomes central even in key moments. It will be up to the fans to decide whether this compromise between performance, sustainability and technology can truly preserve the appeal of the pinnacle of motorsport.
The revelation that lift and coast will be a necessity even in qualifying marks a significant tactical shift that Charles Leclerc and Ferrari must master if they hope to challenge for the 2026 title. By turning the ultimate “flat-out” session into a complex exercise in energy harvesting and deployment, the new regulations place a premium on a driver’s ability to adapt their natural instincts to the demands of the SF-26’s sophisticated hybrid system. While the transition may feel jarring to traditionalists, the success of the Ferrari project will depend on how efficiently the team can integrate this “unnatural” driving style into their performance software, ensuring that Charles Leclerc’s legendary qualifying pace remains a weapon despite the constraints of the new era.
Esteban Ocon’s confirmation of lift and coast requirements in qualifying highlights a more strategic and management-heavy future for Formula 1 in 2026, posing a unique challenge for the grid’s fastest over-one-lap drivers like Charles Leclerc.
