Lewis Hamilton questions new F1 energy management: “You need a degree to understand it”. Lewis Hamilton shares his first impressions of the new-generation F1 cars in Bahrain testing.

Lewis Hamilton’s first impressions of the new cars

Lewis Hamilton’s first official day of testing in Bahrain ended with a gap of exactly one second to Max Verstappen. A deficit that worries the fans more than Ferrari itself: the Scuderia from Maranello is currently focused on gathering data and analysing the behaviour of the SF-26 before turning its attention more specifically to outright performance in the second part of the test sessions.

The seven-time Formula 1 world champion, reflecting on his day one, appeared somewhat critical of the new generation of cars. However, it is likely that – at least in part – his negative sensations regarding the SF-26 were influenced by the strong winds that affected running throughout the day.

Lewis Hamilton’s comments

“It’s very windy here, it’s much hotter than Barcelona and it’s much harder to find the right balance, but I think everyone is struggling. The car is shorter, lighter, and actually it’s easier to control. It’s more fun to drive, it feels like rallying,” Lewis Hamilton said, referring to the instability at the rear of the car. “It really feels like we are slower than a GP2.” In reality, Formula 2 recorded a pole time of 1:44 in Bahrain, around ten seconds slower than the fastest lap set on day one of F1 testing.

Lewis Hamilton’s main concerns, however, relate to energy management under the new regulations: “In Barcelona you are doing 600 metres of lift and coast in a qualifying lap. That’s not the spirit of racing. None of the fans will understand these procedures, they are ridiculously complex. The other day they explained it to me in seven meetings, it’s like you need a degree to fully understand them.”

Lewis Hamilton’s critique shows the steep learning curve both drivers and fans face in this new era. While the technical sophistication of the 2026 power units is undeniably impressive, the veteran champion fears that the move toward extreme energy management could undermine the raw, high-speed spectacle that defines Formula 1. Whether these complexities will translate into better racing or simply more confusion will likely remain the season’s biggest talking point.