World Champion Lando Norris has criticised Formula 1 management, stating the sport prioritises profit over its core racing integrity. Speaking ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix, Norris claimed the current 2026 regulations would be disliked by fans who followed the sport before the influence of Netflix’s ‘Drive to Survive’ series.
The McLaren driver highlighted the new engine rules, which feature a near 50-50 split between combustion and electrical power, as a primary concern. These regulations have drawn significant criticism from drivers and pundits following recent power-dependent rounds at Silverstone and Spa-Francorchamps.
Sky F1 pundit Martin Brundle expressed his dismay, noting a ‘tear in my eye’ due to the altered character of iconic corners at Silverstone and Spa. Drivers are now effectively slowing down at top speed to manage and recharge their batteries, impacting traditional racing lines and challenges.
Max Verstappen, a four-time world champion, previously likened the sport to ‘Mario Kart’ due to the energy management demands. He stated his enjoyment of racing was diminished by the new technical requirements.
Norris echoed these sentiments, specifically mentioning that the iconic Pouhon corner at Spa-Francorchamps is ‘not a corner anymore’ under the current rules. Fernando Alonso also referred to the championship as the ‘battery world championship’.
Norris acknowledged the commercial drivers behind the rule changes. He stated that modifications were necessary to attract new manufacturers like Audi and Cadillac to the grid.
Audi joined Formula 1 this season as a factory team and power unit supplier, having acquired Sauber. Cadillac also debuted in 2026 as the 11th team, initially utilising Ferrari engines before developing their own power units from 2029.
The McLaren driver suggested that fans from five years ago, prior to the ‘Drive to Survive’ era, would ‘hate’ the current state of racing. He believes the focus has shifted towards driver personalities rather than the intricacies of the race itself.
Social media has seen fans accuse F1 of censoring negative comments regarding the 2026 regulations, with some posts having critical replies hidden. Concerns include perceived ‘fake’ overtakes driven by battery strategies and a loss of raw racing intensity.
George Russell’s radio message during the Belgian Grand Prix, where he attributed his race-ending collision with Lewis Hamilton to battery issues, was not broadcast live. This incident, along with suggestions of removed telemetry graphics, has fueled fan speculation about transparency.
Formula 1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali has defended the sport’s direction, dismissing criticism by highlighting sold-out races and increased youth engagement. He stated that F1 has ‘no problems’ and is in ‘great shape’.
However, Domenicali has also acknowledged driver feedback and confirmed ongoing discussions for ‘right adjustments’ to the 2026 technical regulations. The FIA admitted to ‘mistakes’ and ‘loopholes’ in the rules following intense criticism after the Belgian Grand Prix.
Minor tweaks to the regulations were implemented from the Miami Grand Prix earlier this season, including adjustments to energy management parameters. Further changes are approved for 2027 and 2028, shifting the power split to 58% internal combustion engine and 42% electric in 2027, then 60/40 in 2028, to reduce electrical dependency.
