P1racenews AI automatic summary:
What are the 2026 F1 cars really like to drive? Here are 10 big steers we’ve been given now that drivers have spoken more expressively
After months of hearing captivating but conflicting narratives about Formula 1’s 2026 rules transformation, we are now gaining genuine insights from the drivers post the initial pre-season test.
Drivers have revealed intriguing details about the behavior of F1’s new cars, a mix of both positive and negative aspects.
An unexpected revelation is the possibility of lift and coast strategies during qualifying due to the energy limitations of the 2026 cars, causing drivers to rethink their approach to achieve optimal lap times.
While efforts were made to enhance cars’ ability to follow one another with the new chassis rules, initial impressions from drivers suggest that trailing another car could be more challenging than before, potentially causing an imbalance and loss of front load.
Despite possible difficulties in following closely through corners, significant variations in speeds on straights raise expectations for increased overtaking opportunities.
