By Graham Duxbury @TheRealDux 

Following the season-opening Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne last weekend, debate around Formula One’s new 2026 technical regulations has intensified, with several drivers questioning whether the new formula has improved the sport.

Reigning world champion Lando Norris describes the new generation of cars as a step backwards for the series. The regulations have introduced a radically revised power-unit concept, with a 50-50 split between internal combustion power and electrical energy, alongside new chassis rules designed to produce lighter and more efficient cars.

However, according to Norris, the increased emphasis on energy management has fundamentally altered the driving experience.

“We’ve come from the best cars ever made in F1 and the nicest to drive, to probably the worst,” Norris said after the Melbourne weekend.

A key frustration lies in how drivers must manage battery charge during a lap. Norris explained that the need to constantly harvest energy forces drivers to lift off the throttle in places where they would normally attack flat-out. “You have to lift everywhere to make sure the battery pack is at the top,” he said, adding that the process makes racing feel “very artificial.”

Not all drivers, however, are ready to condemn the new regulations. George Russell, who started the Australian GP in pole position and won the race for Mercedes, urged patience. With teams still learning how to optimise the new systems, Russell believes it is too early to definitively judge the merits or otherwise of the regulations.

Whether the 2026 era ultimately enhances the racing spectacle or confirms Norris’ belief will likely become clearer as teams unlock performance over the coming races beginning with the Chinese GP this weekend.