(Motorsport-Total.com) – Drivers’ criticism of the new Formula 1 generation is getting louder – and now a team principal is also speaking out clearly. McLaren boss Andrea Stella sees the season opener in Melbourne as a clear indication that the new rules still have weaknesses.
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The street circuit in Albert Park in particular has revealed the problems of the 2026 regulations “very dramatically”. The background is primarily the complex energy management of the new power units, which requires drivers to significantly adapt their driving style.
Stella actually sees this as a structural problem: “Albert Park definitely shows some of the weaknesses of the new rules,” explains the McLaren team principal. “You release the energy very quickly and empty the battery accordingly fast.” This makes it extremely important how and where energy is recovered.
This affects not only the technology but also the drivers’ driving style. “This is not just an engineering task, but also has to do with how you drive the car,” Stella explains. From his perspective, this is where a central conflict lies: “These elements are not part of what drivers have learned throughout their entire careers.”
Drivers have to drive completely differently
The street circuit in Melbourne further exacerbates the problem. Unlike tracks like Bahrain, there are significantly fewer hard braking zones – meaning fewer opportunities to recover energy.
Instead, drivers have to increasingly use “lift and coast,” meaning letting off the throttle earlier to save energy. In addition, there is another phenomenon: so-called “super-clipping.” In this case, the driver remains fully on the throttle while the system simultaneously recharges energy – which, however, significantly reduces speed.
The consequences were clearly visible on the track. On the actually fast passage towards Turn 9, the cars slowed down noticeably, causing the previously spectacular combination of Turns 9 and 10 to lose significant intensity.
Massive criticism from the drivers
The drivers clearly vented their frustration after qualifying. Norris even stated that Formula 1 had gone from the “best cars of all time to probably the worst.”
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His teammate Oscar Piastri, the Ferrari duo Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, as well as world champion Max Verstappen, also expressed similar concerns. Stella generally finds this criticism understandable. “I think these rules will always provoke comments from drivers calling for improvements,” he says.
At the same time, he points out that some problems are also track-specific. Other circuits could provide a different picture.
Changes only after several races?
In the Formula 1 community, there are already discussions about whether adjustments to the regulations might be necessary. Stella himself had already suggested possible changes in the past. However, many teams want to collect more data from the first races before major decisions are made.
“After a few races, we will have to look at whether something should be changed – and if so, what,” Stella explains. This is not just about technical details, but also about the character of Formula 1. “We must ensure that we continue to provide entertainment while preserving the DNA of driving a Formula 1 car.”
Further insights expected in China
According to Stella, the race in Melbourne will provide important insights – especially regarding overtaking and energy consumption during the race. “After qualifying, the picture is not yet complete,” he says. The upcoming Grand Prix in China is also expected to provide additional clues.
Bahrain, where testing took place previously, did not make many of these problems as clearly visible. “Bahrain does not reveal some of the structural limitations – especially with the energy recovery system – as openly as Melbourne,” says Stella.
That is precisely why the season opener in Australia was so revealing. Or as Stella puts it: “The fact that Albert Park is the first race of the season has made these problems visible in a very dramatic way.”
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