18/07/2025 15:30
Lance Stroll has branded F1's 2026 rules overhaul as a "science
project" and feels the direction of the package is "sad". For 2026,
the chassis and power units of the F1 cars change considerably, but
the new direction has not received positive feedback from drivers
who have tested the new cars on the simulator. The power units are
set to feature a 50-50 split between the internal combustion engine
and electrical energy in producing power, with fears that drivers
could run out of energy on long straights, such as at Monza, and
have to change down gears to go faster. Moreover, once the energy
deployment is depleted, and F1 cars revert to only ICE power, there
is the possibility the F2 cars will generate more horsepower.
Aston Martin driver Stroll, not renowned for being outspoken on F1
topics of the moment, delivered a strong rebuke to the new rules
,though, branding them "sad" and like an "energy battery
championship science project". "We'll get a bit of an idea in the
test and then in Australia, but the regulations, I think, are a bit
sad," Stroll replied when asked by RacingNews365 for his thoughts
on the new rules. "I have driven it in the sim, and that's why I'm
a bit sad. It is a shame that in Formula 1, we're taking the path
of electric energy, and we've had to take all the downforce off to
support the battery power. "It would just be fun to see some light,
nimble, fast cars with lots of downforce, and just to simplify the
whole thing a little bit, so less of an energy battery championship
science project and more of a Formula 1 racing championship. "So I
don't love the idea of the new regulations, and I think a lot of
the drivers can agree on that, and I don't think some of them can
talk about it for political reasons. "It is exciting to think
about cars that can scream a little louder, be lighter and just not
depend or focus so much on energy or batteries or the power train,
that is not very racey."
