Lewis Hamilton may have finally rediscovered competitiveness and enjoyment at Ferrari during the Canadian Grand Prix weekend, but the seven-time world champion remains deeply unconvinced by the overall direction Formula 1 has taken under the 2026 regulations.
After months of criticism from Max Verstappen regarding the complexity and artificial nature of modern Formula 1 racing, Lewis Hamilton has now publicly aligned himself with many of the Dutch driver’s concerns.
Despite securing one of his strongest weekends since joining Ferrari — including an intense and highly entertaining battle with Max Verstappen in Montreal — Lewis Hamilton admitted that driving the current generation of Formula 1 cars still produces what he described as a strange and unnatural sensation behind the wheel.
The Canadian Grand Prix represented a rare moment where both Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen appeared genuinely energized by racing once again. The two former title rivals shared a Formula 1 podium together for the first time since the 2024 British Grand Prix, although both were ultimately beaten by Mercedes star Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
Yet even after a positive weekend, neither driver appeared fully satisfied with the broader technical philosophy shaping Formula 1 today.
Max Verstappen’s criticism of modern Formula 1 continues growing
Over recent months, Max Verstappen has become the most vocal critic of Formula 1’s current regulations.
The Red Bull driver has repeatedly argued that the sport has drifted too far away from the raw driving sensations that once defined Formula 1. During the Canadian Grand Prix weekend, the four-time world champion reportedly reiterated that without meaningful regulation changes for next season, his long-term commitment to the championship could become uncertain.
According to Max Verstappen’s position, modern Formula 1 cars have become excessively complicated, both technically and strategically, reducing the purity of racing itself.
The Dutch driver believes the current balance between electrical deployment and combustion power significantly contributes to the issue. He reportedly supports the proposed 60:40 split between combustion and electrical energy planned for future seasons, viewing it as a step toward restoring a more natural racing experience.
Even so, many inside the paddock believe Max Verstappen would still prefer a much more aggressive return toward simpler, louder and more driver-focused Formula 1 machinery.
Lewis Hamilton says modern F1 creates a “weird feeling”
Lewis Hamilton’s comments after the Canadian Grand Prix strongly echoed many of Max Verstappen’s frustrations.
Although the Ferrari driver admitted he greatly enjoyed his on-track fight with Max Verstappen and felt genuinely happy with his overall performance in Montreal, he also explained that driving the current Formula 1 cars still feels unnatural compared to previous generations.
According to Lewis Hamilton, the energy deployment systems and straight-line power delivery create sensations that do not resemble what he personally believes motorsport should feel like.
The British driver described how power suddenly fades midway through straights once the energy deployment cycle changes, creating a driving experience fundamentally different from earlier Formula 1 eras.
Lewis Hamilton reflected nostalgically on the V8 and V10 periods of Formula 1, when engines continuously accelerated at full power all the way to the braking zone without interruptions caused by complex electrical management systems. In his view, the modern hybrid systems introduce an artificial element to racing that did not previously exist in Formula 1.
Lewis Hamilton still sees positives in the current generation of cars
Despite his criticism, Lewis Hamilton did acknowledge that modern Formula 1 cars have improved in certain important areas.
The Ferrari driver reportedly believes the fundamental aerodynamic design of the current generation allows drivers to follow each other more closely and race more aggressively compared to previous years.
That characteristic was clearly visible during the Canadian Grand Prix, where Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen spent multiple laps battling intensely without immediately destroying tyre performance or overheating the cars. For many Formula 1 fans, those close battles represent one of the strongest aspects of the current regulations.
However, Lewis Hamilton still believes the emotional excitement created by older naturally aspirated Formula 1 engines remains largely unmatched by today’s power units.
Ferrari’s progress cannot fully erase Lewis Hamilton’s concerns
The irony for Ferrari is that Lewis Hamilton’s criticism arrives precisely when the seven-time world champion is finally beginning to feel increasingly comfortable inside the Scuderia.
Recent operational changes at Ferrari, combined with the improving relationship between Lewis Hamilton and engineer Carlo Santi, have helped create a far more competitive and stable environment around the British driver.
Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc are also benefiting from what many experts consider one of the strongest chassis packages currently on the Formula 1 grid, even if Ferrari continues struggling with a power unit deficit relative to Mercedes.
Still, Lewis Hamilton’s broader concerns about Formula 1 clearly extend beyond Ferrari’s competitive situation.
The Canadian Grand Prix demonstrated that Lewis Hamilton can still enjoy racing intensely under the modern regulations. But his comments also confirmed that, from the perspective of one of Formula 1’s greatest drivers, the sport still risks losing part of the raw emotional identity that once made it so special.
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