What’s got drivers so agitated about “strange” 2026 F1 cars?

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Hamilton Embraces 2026 F1 Regulation Shift as Engineering Challenge

Photo by: Erik Junius

Lewis hamilton has expressed a philosophical outlook on teh upcoming 2026 Formula 1 regulation changes, viewing the impending technical overhaul as a important engineering challenge that he relishes.

“I don’t really want to shut it down, because maybe things will be good. Let’s see when we get into the next season,” Hamilton stated, acknowledging the uncertainty surrounding the new regulations. “It could go either way; it could be good, it could be not so good. But only time will tell.”

The seven-time world champion highlighted the dual demands of developing the current car while simultaneously working on the next generation of machinery.”What I love is that while we’re fighting this season in this championship,we’re also having to develop the current car – and then the next car. And that, for me, is interesting. If we were just with the same car all the time, evolving on a very small gradient, it just would not be anywhere near as fun.”

The apprehension surrounding the new era is not confined to the drivers. the decision to conduct the initial tests in January behind closed doors at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya,a departure from previous open testing sessions,underscores the sensitivity of the upcoming changes.This move contrasts with the more accessible testing formats of recent years.

Formula 1 aims to avoid a repeat of the aerodynamic issues,such as porpoising,that plagued the current generation of cars,or the reliability problems experienced during the early stages of the hybrid era with Renault-powered machinery. However,once the cars are on track and competing,performance will ultimately be resolute by merit.

Carlos Sainz commented on the drivers’ adaptability to the new technical regulations: “I think as drivers, we’ll just adapt to whatever they give us. We’ll just go as fast as we can. If we have to do six or seven switch changes through a lap, we’ll do them.And we’ll just become good at it like we always do.”