Lewis Hamilton is a fan of the new F1 regulations, a change of opinion from many of his peers.
Lewis Hamilton has defended the new F1 regulations, stating it is “how racing should be” despite criticism from his peers. A number of F1 drivers have voiced disappointment with the new-for-2026 cars and the heavy emphasis on energy harvesting and deployment. It has generated ‘yo-yo racing’ as drivers often struggle to hold onto their position after overtaking a rival due to their depleted battery. In the previous generation of cars, the drag reduction system (DRS) was used to help overtaking – a system Hamilton admitted he was not a fan of, which was widely seen as being too artificial given the ease of some overtaking moves completed with the wing open. Hamilton finds the current car more fun to race with than any previous version, mentioning his notable battle against team-mate Charles Leclerc at the Chinese Grand Prix. He added that racing should be back and forth with one move, and it’s done, suggesting the need for more competitive battles among teams.
