Between safety concerns, increasingly artificial racing, and controversial regulations, a central issue is emerging in Formula 1: the lack of driver involvement in key decisions shaping the sport.
“We drivers are not being listened to.” With these words, Lewis Hamilton highlights a problem that had already begun to surface—that Formula 1 is failing to listen to its main protagonists. This perception comes not only from the Ferrari driver’s remarks—which we will explore shortly—but also from the growing number of complaints voiced by his colleagues about this new era of Formula 1, not just in the 2026 season.
Let’s take it step by step: how did things reach this point? The Japanese Grand Prix further amplified the issues brought by the new Formula 1 regulations. The topics are well known, and among those generating the most debate are what can be described as an “artificial” spectacle and, above all, safety—arguably the most critical aspect.
“We drivers are not being listened to.” With these words, Lewis Hamilton highlights a problem that had already begun to surface—that Formula 1 is failing to listen to its main protagonists. This perception comes not only from the Ferrari driver’s remarks—which we will explore shortly—but also from the growing number of complaints voiced by his colleagues about this new era of Formula 1, not just in the 2026 season.
Let’s take it step by step: how did things reach this point? The Japanese Grand Prix further amplified the issues brought by the new Formula 1 regulations. The topics are well known, and among those generating the most debate are what can be described as an “artificial” spectacle and, above all, safety—arguably the most critical aspect.
Lewis Hamilton attacks: “Drivers have no voice”
At the end of the Japanese race weekend, it was confirmed that a meeting will take place in April to discuss the new regulations and the driving style they impose. To prevent situations like the one involving Oliver Bearman from happening again, several solutions are currently being evaluated.
For example, there is talk of reducing the electric component, or—as reported by The Race—there is also the possibility of removing restrictions on active aerodynamics in qualifying, allowing drivers to recover performance without relying on energy recharge. However, it is precisely the drivers who do not expect major changes from this meeting.
Leading the skepticism is Lewis Hamilton, who, as reported by PlanetF1, said: “I don’t expect much from this meeting, but I hope they make significant changes.” Before continuing on the regulatory topic, he briefly touched on Ferrari: “Obviously,” the British champion continued, “in some areas of performance we are well behind the Mercedes engine, but we don’t know if it depends on a bigger turbo, more power, or something else. We will find out.”
Returning to the subject of regulations, during the Japanese weekend he was asked whether the lack of expected changes was due to the complexity of implementing them or to Formula 1 politics: “There are too many cooks in the kitchen. It usually doesn’t lead to a good outcome.” And then: “Drivers have no voice. They have no power. We are not on the committee. We don’t have a vote.”
Drivers ignored: the risk of an F1 disconnected from reality
From the words of the Stevenage-born driver, two key aspects emerge. The first is that meaningful changes are unlikely to happen in the short term. The second is that drivers—the ones actually in the cars and at the center of the sport—are not truly being heard, except perhaps at a superficial level.
This is not a new issue. Many voices have raised concerns about the problems created by the new regulations, both on and off the track. Max Verstappen has been warning about this since 2023, when he admitted that technology would increasingly overshadow the driver’s role. Even today, his comments reflect growing frustration, to the point of “threatening” a potential exit from the sport.
There are also the concerns expressed by Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz, both of whom have addressed safety issues, as well as those of the reigning world champion. Meanwhile, Charles Leclerc has complained about no longer feeling faster than himself and struggling to find the limit, especially on Saturdays in qualifying.
The risk is that these problems will continue to appear, particularly given the current calendar, which includes circuits such as Miami, Spa, Canada, Monza, and Las Vegas. These tracks feature more long straights than corners, potentially amplifying the phenomenon of super clipping.
With its new rules, Formula 1 is moving away from the foundations it built in the previous era—an identity that will not be easy to rediscover. With the ground-effect generation of cars, the priority became promoting DRS and racing on faster circuits, leading to long-term agreements with such venues.
However, the new cars would benefit more from shorter, more compact layouts—such as Austria, Brazil, or Imola—where straights are less dominant and lift-and-coast driving would be less pronounced.
An F1 to rethink: between regulations and identity
Looking ahead to 2026, it is difficult to imagine major changes to the power units, as technical timelines do not allow for it. However, this could serve as a transitional year to build a stronger foundation for the future. If the goal is to maintain a balance between internal combustion and electric power, then action must be taken in other areas: circuits, sporting regulations, and, crucially, driver involvement.
Because drivers must be central figures not only on track. They are not just media personalities, but active contributors to the development of the sport. Listening to them only formally, or limiting engagement to symbolic meetings—such as a supposed dinner—is not enough. The real risk, which may already be unfolding, is the distortion of the competition itself.
And above all, there is the danger of losing the champions who have made Formula 1 great—drivers capable of making the difference even with an inferior car. True spectacle comes from racing, and it is precisely from there that the sport must begin again.
Leave a Reply