2026 was supposed to be the year of rebirth for Formula One. With new regulations, Liberty Media, the FIA and F1’s governing bodies had opted for engines in which half the power now comes from electric sources, and for lighter, more compact cars. They hoped this would bring the show back to a sport constantly seeking to make its ‘product’ more appealing to international audiences. Now that the dust has settled, it seems like F1 has, above all, managed to fall out with its drivers and part of its audience.
The first to speak out, during pre-season testing, was Max Verstappen. The four-time Dutch world champion described the new rules as ‘anti-racing’, and later revealed he’d swapped his simulator for a Nintendo Switch so he could practise on Mario Kart. What an atmosphere… The problem can be summed up in one phrase: energy management. Put simply, the rise of electric power has completely changed the way drivers race. The battery recharges in the corners and drains on the straights. A car that has run out of battery can lose up to 50 km/h at the end of a straight, creating a phenomenon that the media and drivers have dubbed ‘yo-yo racing’.
On paper, the figures do indeed look impressive: right from the first Grand Prix in Australia, there were 120 overtakes, compared with 45 a year earlier. But for F1 aficionados, an overtake achieved simply because an opponent has run out of battery will never have the same flair as a late, controlled braking manoeuvre.
Saturday's qualifying sessions have also been sacrificed. The flying lap is now more of an energy management exercise than the perpetual research for car limits that it once was. The always sharp-tongued World Champion Fernando Alonso (45 years old and still on the grid!) even went as far as comparing fast corners to charging stations for electric vehicles.
Even more worrying, during the same weekend in Japan, Oliver Bearman, the Haas driver, hit the wall at almost 300 km/h, with an impact measured at 50G, unsettled by the speed difference with the Franco Colapinto's Alpine in front of him.
And the sport in all this?
Don't get me wrong: Antonelli's title is an historic feat: in Mexico, he became the youngest world champion in the history of F1. Mercedes crushed most of the season, subsequently killing all suspense after just a few races. But few people would have bet at the beginning of said season that Kimi would outclass George Russell, his teammate. After years of waiting for his turn to drive the best car on the grid, the Englishman did meet expectations this year.
At Ferrari, the cohabitation between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc is turning sour, in part because of Hamilton's renewed competitiveness (the Kardashian effect?). These scuffles between the two drivers raise questions: does Charles Leclerc have a glass ceiling ? Can he really be driver number one for a world champion team? Tough questions that Fred Vasseur, Ferrari's French manager has to answer, in the midst of strong criticisms from the Italian press.
What about Verstappen, the flying Dutchman? He finally extended his contract with Red Bull until 2030, despite months of threatening hints about a possible early retirement. Probably convinced by the new direction taken by the Austrian team, which parted ways with Christian Horner in the summer of 2025, Verstappen looks like a strong competitor for next year, provided he has a car which matches his ambitions.
Yesterday, in Interlagos, a crazy qualifying session in the rain reminded us that a little water was enough to bring back the show that we all love. Let's hope the FIA can do some self-reflection and rethink its position on regulation. 2027 could finally offer what 2026 had promised: an exciting season, decided on braking courage rather than energy management.