Liam Lawson says 2026 F1 cars are not 'super fun' to drive

As Formula 1 gears up to open its 2026 season at Melbourne's Albert Park this Sunday, a near-universal chorus of driver dissatisfaction has emerged over the sport's most sweeping regulatory overhaul in a generation.

Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson is among the latest to speak out, telling a New Zealand radio station the new cars are not " super fun " to drive, citing reduced downforce that makes them "playful" but harder to push to the limit. He is far from alone. Four-time champion Max Verstappen described the regulations as " anti-racing ," likening the experience to " Formula E on steroids ," and even hinted at retirement if things do not improve. Seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton criticized the new rulebook as " ridiculously complex ," saying drivers practically need a degree to understand it.

Fernando Alonso highlighted the impact on racing: at Turn 12 in Bahrain, where drivers previously attacked flat at 260 kph, energy conservation has slowed them to around 200 kph — a corner he joked even his team's chef could now navigate. Reigning champion Lando Norris , who initially resisted the negativity, later admitted he agrees with most of Verstappen's critiques, calling it "not the purest form of racing." Verstappen added that the " positive camp " is small, while critics dominate the conversation.

The root cause is twofold: a dramatic cut in aerodynamic downforce has left cars lighter but less planted, while a near 50-50 split between electric and combustion power forces drivers to constantly manage energy. The FIA has acknowledged the complaints and signaled it is open to software-level adjustments , though it plans to wait for the opening races before making changes.

Whether Melbourne delivers the wheel-to-wheel drama that could silence critics remains uncertain, as fans and drivers alike brace for a season that promises both excitement and controversy.