F1 2026: drivers adapting to the regulations
Already after the first tests on the simulator and even more so after the tests, practically all the Formula 1 drivers admitted that they had been forced to completely review your driving style. The need for battery charging and energy management forced them to make some corrections which they themselves defined as “counter-intuitive” and decidedly different compared to what had been done on F1 single-seaters up until then.
The main change concerns qualifying, where drivers are discovering that going to the limit is counterproductive. Charles Leclerc in fact, during the recent weekend in China he underlined that no longer being able to push as much as he would like and that this somewhat limited his talent of always finding something special on Saturdays.
Vasseur admits Leclerc’s difficulties
In the press conference at the end of the event in Shanghai, the Ferrari team principal, Frederic Vasseur, was asked if Leclerc is actually penalized by this new course of Formula 1.
The French manager’s response was affirmative: “This is a big step in terms of regulations and probably requires more adaptation, more changes and a different approach from the drivers. AND Charles is doing it. I’m not sure if fundamentally these cars suit his style very well, but he’s working on it. He has an excellent ability to read and understand the situation of the car, he is very smart and will make it.”
