In Barcelona, Components 1 groups and drivers had their first alternative to check the brand new vehicles for the 2026 season, however this came about behind closed doorways throughout the shakedown. F1 did share interviews and evaluation from groups and drivers throughout the occasion, however few outspoken opinions have been heard exterior the Barcelona paddock.
That modified in Bahrain, nevertheless, with the primary official 2026 F1 take a look at kicking off final week. This time, media retailers, together with Motorsport.com, have been welcome, and a clearer image emerged of what the drivers take into consideration the 2026 F1 vehicles.
As they be taught extra concerning the new vehicles, these opinions could change, however how do the drivers presently really feel?
From the outspoken opinion of Max Verstappen to the constructive feedback from Lando Norris and Kimi Antonelli, right here is an outline of the F1 drivers’ reactions to the brand new technology of vehicles.
Gabriel Bortoleto: “You may play slightly bit extra”
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“It feels slightly bit just like the junior collection,” stated Audi driver Gabriel Bortoleto. “Clearly, the grip stage is a bit greater, but it surely comes again slightly bit to the fundamentals of that. The automotive that has much less grip, that you’re sliding extra by way of the nook, that you may play with extra – it is only a bit completely different.
“Final 12 months, the vehicles have been actually planted within the ground, . You’d undergo a excessive pace and the second you will have a snap, you’ll in all probability simply, or spin, or finish it up in a foul manner. And this 12 months, it feels that you may play slightly bit extra with it.
“It is simply completely different, , like… It is much less quick than final 12 months for certain. So everybody all the time thinks ‘oh, as a result of you will have quicker vehicles, it is all the time extra pleasurable,’ however generally it is also pleasurable to have a automotive that has much less grip.
“I nonetheless haven’t got a transparent opinion of what I favor, as a result of it is very early phases and I have to see additionally how we race with this as a result of we to date have not raced with these new rules. However it’s pleasurable, it is good.”
Charles Leclerc: “I discover the enjoyable otherwise”
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“I imply, enjoyable, it is not the funniest automotive,” the Ferrari driver stated. “It isn’t essentially the most enjoyable I’ve had driving a automotive, but it surely’s the best way it’s. And I discover the enjoyable otherwise.
“I believe the problem of actually growing this entire new system is, in itself, one thing that I’ve loved. And one thing that I discover very fascinating. In that, I form of discover some enjoyable into simply experiencing various things. And issues which may haven’t labored prior to now. However now that it is all completely different, it is cool to have the ability to suppose a bit exterior the field. And to try to discover different methods in making an attempt to maximise the efficiency of the automotive.
“However the precise pleasure of driving the automotive is completely different.”
Fernando Alonso: “The chef can drive the automotive”
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“I do not know, we have to wait a few races to see how these regs work once we are all collectively and the way racing turns into,” Fernando Alonso defined. “Right here in Bahrain, has been traditionally Flip 12 a really difficult nook. So, you used to decide on your downforce stage to go Flip 12 simply flat, so that you take away downforce till you might be in Flip 12 simply flat with new tyres.
“So, it was a driver talent, decisive issue to go quick in a lap time. Now, in Flip 12, we’re like 50km/h slower as a result of we do not wish to waste vitality there and we wish to have all on the straights. So, to do Flip 12 as an alternative of 260 at 200, you may drive the automotive. The chef can drive the automotive in Flip 12 at that pace.
“However you do not wish to waste vitality since you wish to have it on the straights. However on the identical time, that is Components 1 and it has all the time been like that. Now it is the vitality. Final 12 months or two years in the past when he gained all of the races it was the downforce.”
Max Verstappen: “I take pleasure in driving flat out. You can’t drive like that”
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“To drive, [it’s] not lots of enjoyable, to be sincere,” stated Max Verstappen. “It isn’t very Components 1-like. It feels a bit extra like Components E on steroids. However the guidelines are the identical for everybody, so it’s a must to cope with that.
“And that is additionally not my downside, as a result of I am all for that. Equal possibilities, I do not thoughts that. However as a pure driver, I take pleasure in driving flat out. And in the intervening time, you can’t drive like that. There’s lots occurring. Plenty of what you do as a driver, by way of inputs, has a large impact on the vitality facet of issues.
“For me, that is simply not Components 1. Possibly it is then higher to drive Components E, proper? As a result of that is all about vitality, effectivity and administration.
“That is what they stand for. So yeah, driving-wise, not so enjoyable. However on the identical time, I additionally know what’s at stake with the crew. Our personal engine. And seeing the thrill of the folks. In fact, after I sit within the automotive, I’ll all the time give it my easiest.”
Lando Norris: “I do not know if I believed it could be simpler or tougher”
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“Plenty of enjoyable, I actually loved it,” stated McLaren’s Lando Norris. “Components 1 adjustments on a regular basis, generally it’s kind of higher to drive, generally it is not pretty much as good to drive.
“I believe it is definitely essentially the most completely different of my Components 1 vehicles that I’ve pushed. They’ve form of been all related adjustments through the years, and all have pushed in a reasonably related manner.
“That is definitely the one which is essentially the most completely different, only a lot much less grip, a a lot trickier automotive to drive, however extra energy. That is not a very good factor, essentially, as a result of it makes it additionally tougher to drive. However extra enjoyable, you are feeling the acceleration distinction, you are feeling the pace and all these issues.
“So, I do not know if I believed it could be simpler or tougher. It is a problem.”
Kimi Antonelli: “The automotive, I believe, is sort of good to drive”
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“It is lots completely different, however I have been fairly having fun with the automotive,” stated Kimi Antonelli. “In fact, you will have much less downforce than final 12 months, much more energy on nook exit, which makes – particularly in a monitor like this – the long term very tough, as a result of traction turns into very difficult in the direction of the tip.
“However in fact, there’s lots of adaptation that’s required and that is why we have to actually maximise the subsequent three days as a result of, clearly, we must be as prepared as potential going into Melbourne.
“I believe the automotive is lighter, it’s kind of shorter, so it is extra agile. You already know, low pace, truly, the sensation is sort of good since you actually really feel the automotive being extra agile. Clearly, the pace is a bit much less, however on that facet, , the automotive, I believe, is sort of good to drive.”
Pierre Gasly: “I am extra going with an open thoughts into the season”
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“It is simply very completely different,” stated Alpine’s Pierre Gasly. “On the finish of the day, we race towards one of the best driver on the earth and we simply obtained to do a greater job than the blokes sitting within the automotive subsequent to us, and obtained to do a greater job as a crew than the ten different groups within the paddock.
“Yeah, you may favor a sure automotive – I do not wish to be dragged into Max and Lando’s feedback – I believe on my facet I am extra going with an open thoughts into the season and after a pair races, , we’ll have a greater understanding of how it’s by way of racing, driving itself.
“I believe F1 goes to evolve so quick, as a result of have a look at these groups, have a look at the speed of growth from these guys, simply 2014 and the way issues evolve, it will be the identical occurring with these vehicles. So, there’s a start line, it doesn’t suggest it will keep there without end and I am simply going to provide it a while.”
Esteban Ocon: “For the time being, it is too early to say”
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“I believe the constructive is that, clearly, it is a new problem for all of us,” stated Haas driver Esteban Ocon. “I’ve are available in F1 and it has been the identical rule set, as an instance, since I joined, , since 10 years: identical engine, very related, all the time, , working with the identical instruments. Now clearly we’ve every little thing to be taught once more.
“Is it essentially the most enjoyable to drive? Possibly not essentially, but it surely’s fairly fascinating to try to get every little thing sorted with the engineer and to try to get the utmost out of the scenario. You already know, it is a new type of driving, it is a new manner of sorting issues out. If tomorrow, , we go racing in Melbourne and there’s three overtakes a lap, I believe all people will say that is superb.
“So, I am extra on the cautious facet the place we are going to see how this goes, if it promotes overtaking, if it promotes the present. If it does not, possibly then some briefings might want to occur, however in the intervening time it is too early to say that.”
Alex Albon: “There’s fairly huge variations between groups”
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“The brand new automotive strikes round a bit greater than final 12 months’s,” remarked Alex Albon after his first laps with the Williams FW48, after the crew skipped the Barcelona shakedown. “Firstly, there’s fairly huge variations between groups. I believe even simply being on the market on monitor, you may see you observe a McLaren, you observe a Haas. Fully completely different driving traces, alternative ways to get a lap time, completely different deployments across the lap.
“So, I believe every little thing will begin to merge as we get nearer to the beginning of the primary race.
“However within the meantime, only a good problem. I really feel like lots of pondering required. I believe that is additionally partly as a result of we miss Barcelona and we have slightly bit extra to make amends for. However yeah, I am having fun with it.”
Valtteri Bottas: “It reminds extra of the vehicles from 2014 into 2016”
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“It is fairly completely different,” stated Cadillac’s Valtteri Bottas. “For me, positively feeling-wise within the automotive, it reminds extra of the vehicles from 2014 into 2016. You already know, the sensation is you are sliding a bit extra, you will have much less downforce, however then the facility out of the corners is sort of good.
“It is rather a lot in comparison with the grip we’ve. So, for instance, the throttle software out of the corners is for much longer now than it was once. So, it is a completely different manner of driving, particularly in relation to the qualifying mode or race mode, it is fairly an enormous distinction in relation to the deployment and stuff. However I prefer it. It is enjoyable. Extra sliding.”
Liam Lawson: “There’s lots of studying in the intervening time”
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“It is fairly robust to drive,” stated Liam Lawson. “Particularly right here, we’ve lots of tyre deg, so there’s much more sliding occurring this 12 months. And it’s fairly difficult to drive.
“I’d say, there’s lots of studying in the intervening time making an attempt to optimise driving this automotive. Between brief runs, qualifying with the battery administration we’ve to do and the lengthy runs as effectively. It is a studying curve.”
Requested whether or not he can take pleasure in the brand new vehicles, Lawson responds with a telling: “Uhm…”
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