The 2026 Formula 1 cars have left a deeply unsettling impression, and it's not just me who feels this way. After the secretive 'shakedown week', Bahrain testing finally gave us a glimpse of what these new cars are capable of, and it's not a pretty sight.
As someone who wasn't physically present at the Sakhir circuit, my first real encounter with the new F1 cars was through the onboard video of Lando Norris' McLaren, posted by Formula One Management on YouTube. And let me tell you, it was underwhelming, to say the least.
The car's lack of power is glaringly obvious, especially through the higher-speed corners. Turns 12 and 13 were particularly concerning - the car looked and sounded broken, as if the throttle was severely restricted. It's a far cry from the demanding nature of those corners in the past.
Fernando Alonso, a driver with immense skill and experience, even suggested that the team chef could drive the car at the speeds F1 drivers are managing. That's a bold statement, and it raises some serious questions about the driving challenge these cars present.
"Historically, Turn 12 was a corner that demanded precision and skill. You had to choose your downforce level carefully to navigate it flat out. It was a true test of driver ability. Now, we're 50 km/h slower, and it's all about conserving energy for the straights. You could drive the car; the chef could drive it at that speed." - Fernando Alonso
This comment from Alonso is damning, and it highlights the neutered nature of the driving experience. It's as if the cars are being driven by anyone, rather than the skilled professionals behind the wheel.
I wanted to confirm my observations, so I watched Kimi Antonelli's onboard footage from the final day of testing. He set the fastest lap so far, but it was still an energy-starved mess. There was too much lifting and coasting, and the corners were being sacrificed for energy harvesting.
The issue seems to be a combination of circuit dependency and the energy-starved nature of the cars. The straights are now so slow that every corner becomes a challenge, whether it's coasting through the fastest sections or employing the 'Verstappen technique' of downshifting to recycle energy.
It's a far cry from the excitement and speed we've come to expect from Formula 1. Max Verstappen has rightfully gone on the offensive, describing this new F1 as a departure from what the sport should be. I agree; lighter cars are great, but if the power and grip thresholds are so low that anyone could achieve them, where's the fun in that?
The story of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri wondering how Charles Leclerc managed his speed through Tabac at Monaco last year showcases the skill and precision required in F1. I doubt we'll see such feats with these cars as they are now.
Norris is right that it's early days, and new rules often sacrifice grip and performance initially. But I'm not convinced when he says it's still "fun." It doesn't look fun; it looks frustrating.
Liam Lawson's response when asked if these F1 cars are fun to drive was telling - a long, drawn-out "Ummmmmm..." speaks volumes.
I remember the arrival of hybrid engines in 2014, and the complaints from retired F1 drivers like Niki Lauda, who said the cars had become too easy to drive. Alonso and others bemoaned the early hybrid generation for its close lap times to GP2 and the tyre limitations, especially in races.
F1 made a smart move by chasing outright performance from 2017 onwards. The cars were bigger, heavier, and unwieldy, but they were fast! The tyres were still an issue, but improvements were made, especially in recent seasons.
Now, the cars are traveling so slowly through the turns that I don't see how they can heat up, let alone overheat, the tyres. The circuits seem too fast for these cars, which is a complete reversal of F1's traditional problem.
The fact that people are talking about energy management even for flat-out qualifying laps is deeply disturbing. These 'push' laps in testing look more like Sunday drives, even on a Saturday.
The political in-fighting before the first race has even happened is another cause for concern. Ferrari vs. everyone else over the start procedure, Mercedes vs. everyone else over compression ratios, and McLaren arguing for rule changes due to the lack of battery power and chaotic closing speeds.
It's a mess, and it's reflected on the track with extreme lifting, coasting, and low-speed recharging. The drivers look like they're struggling to control broken cars through high-speed corners.
How will there be any proper late braking and overtaking if everyone has to lift and coast to recharge their batteries? This isn't the Formula 1 we know and love.
Verstappen's comparisons to Formula E are unflattering, but they highlight the issues. This is Formula 1 as a Frankenstein's monster, with rules designed to attract Audi and Honda, but at the cost of cars that are slow, unsatisfying to drive, and have movable aerodynamics, low-drag tyres, and a lower minimum weight.
I know it's early, and Norris is right that performance will likely improve, but the initial impression is poor. I worry that many will switch off before we see any improvements, despite F1's best efforts to promote a positive image.
The problems with this new ruleset are now visible. Instead of a holistic approach, we have neutered hybrid engines and an FIA-designed chassis formula to try and regain lost performance. So far, the gap between the two is vast.
It's no wonder that, early last year, there were serious discussions about adopting V8 or V10 engines with sustainable fuels. I never thought I'd say this, but bring back the MGU-Hs! At least the cars would work properly.
The new, faster version of Albert Park could be an embarrassment for F1 if the cars struggle to manage their energy through the long, high-speed stretch. Will Turns 9 and 10 remain a challenging left/right combination, or will everyone have to coast through to conserve battery power?
I'm not alone in my concerns about F1 2026. I hope Norris is right, and this mess sorts itself out through engineering and time. But for now, I'm worried about the future of the sport.
