Bahrain – Disagreement over the driving experience of Formula 1’s new generation of cars has emerged from pre-season testing, with reigning World Champion Lando Norris dismissing criticism from four-time champion Max Verstappen as grounds for retirement.
Verstappen, during testing on Thursday, described the 2026 cars as “anti-racing” and likened the focus on energy management to “Formula E on steroids.” He even suggested he might leave the sport if the new regulations proved unenjoyable, a sentiment Norris swiftly countered. “He can retire if he wants,” Norris stated, according to multiple reports.
Even as Norris expressed enjoyment with the new cars, other drivers have highlighted the complexities introduced by the revised engine regulations. George Russell of Mercedes explained that the new power units demand a different driving style, requiring drivers to utilize lower gears in corners than previously necessary to maintain engine speed and maximize energy recovery.
“To offer an example, here in Bahrain, usually the first corner is a third-gear corner in the previous generation [of car]. Now, we’re having to utilize first gear to maintain the engine, the revs very high to keep the turbo spinning,” Russell said. He illustrated the unusual requirement with an analogy to everyday driving, noting the counterintuitive nature of using a lower gear for a corner. “It’s like, ‘Wwaahh,’ revving. You don’t go in the roundabout to the supermarket in first gear if you’re driving at a sensible speed.”
Russell further explained that optimizing lap time is no longer a straightforward matter of cornering speed. The critical importance of energy levels means that a faster cornering line may not necessarily translate to a quicker lap. “In the past, if you went around the corner quicker or you tried something different and it worked, you know that’s positive and you just carry that forward,” he said. “Here, you almost need to wait a full lap to actually learn, ‘What I did at Turn One, has that cost me energy or not?’”
The debate comes after the first day of testing in Bahrain, where drivers began to assess the impact of the new regulations. Verstappen’s comments suggest a fundamental disagreement with the direction of the sport, while Norris appears to embrace the challenges presented by the new cars. The contrasting views highlight the potential for division within the driver lineup as the 2026 season approaches.
