Drivers are now at the mercy of software, monstrous superclipping dominates, and the call is simple: give us back real qualifying.
If this Formula 1 truly has to be a spectacle before it is even a sport, then how can we accept qualifying sessions like these? Where is the show? How many people actually felt excited watching this morning’s session?
We are reaching levels similar to the infamous “hot seat” format of 2016—an experiment that lasted less than the blink of an eye, just two Grands Prix. What is urgently needed now is a decisive, clear, and immediate intervention to save one of the most romantic and iconic elements of Formula 1: the qualifying lap. The moment when a driver throws his heart over the obstacle, when pure talent is on display, when a personal legend can be built in a single lap.
Instead, what we witnessed at Suzuka was a distorted version of qualifying, heavily affected by regulations that turn high-speed corners into energy harvesting zones, effectively reducing them to medium-speed sections. The result is a nightmare scenario of superclipping, where even the smallest imperfections trigger recalibrations in the power delivery software. Under these conditions, how can fans truly enjoy qualifying?
Why does one driver finish ahead of another? Is it because he is faster, or simply because he is better at not reaching the limit? These are the questions that now define modern Formula 1 qualifying.
From Miami onwards, a change of direction is absolutely necessary. There is a full month available to understand how and where to intervene, but qualifying must be at the top of the list of priorities. Because what we are seeing now are qualifying sessions without a soul.
And it is the drivers themselves who are saying it loudly and clearly.
Lando Norris: “It hurts the soul to see your speed drop so much, by up to 56 km/h on the straight.”
Fernando Alonso: “The challenge of Suzuka in qualifying has disappeared. I told you already in Bahrain that even the team chef could drive these cars, and now I believe that at least 50% of the team members could lap Suzuka. High-speed corners have become battery charging stations, so you go slow to recharge and then have power on the straight. There is no longer much driving skill required.”
Carlos Sainz: “The more I pushed, the slower I went. We drivers have clearly made it known that things need to improve. I hope they listen to us and not just to the teams. I am concerned that some teams will oppose changes for their own interests.”
Charles Leclerc: “Every time you go even slightly beyond the limit, every small instability comes with an energy cost on the power unit side that is not small, but three times bigger on the straight. Consistency matters more than bravery, and that is a shame because qualifying becomes less challenging. If in Q3 you try things you have not tried before, the system has to reoptimize everything while you are driving. I hope we will find a solution as soon as possible.”
Lewis Hamilton: “In the first part of the lap you are on the limit, but then from Turn 6 onwards you cannot push anymore because you have to manage the battery. Not being able to use full power for the entire lap is definitely one of the least enjoyable aspects.”
Andrea Kimi Antonelli: “Obviously there are parts of the track where you are limited, where your driving is constrained because of energy management. On this type of circuit there is work to be done to find a solution that allows us to push more and drive without thinking too much about it.”
Max Verstappen: “I am not frustrated, I am beyond that. For me this is not fun, and it is not for the others either. When you are away from home for 22 races, you have to do something you enjoy in life… This applies to all athletes: the first step to performing at your best is to have fun. If you are not enjoying it, you cannot deliver your maximum. The superclipping at 130R? That says everything.”
The message coming from the paddock is clear and impossible to ignore. Modern Formula 1 qualifying, shaped by extreme energy management and software dependency, is moving further away from its original spirit. What was once the ultimate test of courage, instinct, and raw driving ability is now increasingly dictated by algorithms, battery limits, and strategic compromises.
There is still time to react before the situation becomes irreversible. With Miami approaching, the FIA and the teams have a crucial opportunity to restore balance and bring back the essence of qualifying. Because without that pure, emotional, and spectacular one-lap performance, Formula 1 risks losing one of its most defining and beloved elements.
The 2026 Japanese Grand Prix qualifying has therefore exposed a fundamental flaw in the sport’s new DNA: speed has been sacrificed for energy efficiency. Based on the content of these driver testimonies, the FIA faces a critical month before Miami to restore the “soul” of the flying lap before the fans—and the drivers—lose interest entirely.
Leave a Reply