In Barcelona, Formulation 1 groups and drivers had their first alternative to check the brand new vehicles for the 2026 season, however this passed off 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 outdoors 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 shops, together with Motorsport.com, have been welcome, and a clearer image emerged of what the drivers take into consideration the 2026 F1 vehicles.
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As they study extra concerning the new vehicles, these opinions might change, however how do the drivers at present really feel?
From the outspoken opinion of to the optimistic feedback from and , right here is an summary of the F1 drivers’ reactions to the brand new technology of vehicles.
Gabriel Bortoleto: “You possibly can play somewhat bit extra”Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Crew
Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Crew
“It feels somewhat bit just like the junior collection,” mentioned driver . “Clearly, the grip degree is a bit increased, but it surely comes again somewhat bit to the fundamentals of that. The automotive that has much less grip, that you’re sliding extra by way of the nook, which you could play with extra – it is only a bit completely different.
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“Final 12 months, the vehicles have been actually planted within the ground, you understand. You’d undergo a excessive velocity and the second you will have a snap, you’ll most likely simply, or spin, or finish it up in a foul manner. And this 12 months, it feels which you could play somewhat bit extra with it.
“It is simply completely different, you understand, 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 sooner vehicles, it is all the time extra fulfilling,’ however typically it is also fulfilling to have a automotive that has much less grip.
“I nonetheless do not have a transparent opinion of what I favor, as a result of it is very early phases and I must see additionally how we race with this as a result of we up to now have not raced with these new rules. But it surely’s fulfilling, it is good.”
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Charles Leclerc: “I discover the enjoyable another way”Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
“I imply, enjoyable, it isn’t the funniest automotive,” the driver mentioned. “It isn’t probably the most enjoyable I’ve had driving a automotive, but it surely’s the best way it’s. And I discover the enjoyable another way.
“I feel the problem of actually creating this complete new system is, in itself, one thing that I’ve loved. And one thing that I discover very fascinating. In that, I type of discover some enjoyable into simply experiencing various things. And issues that may haven’t labored up to now. However now that it is all completely different, it is cool to have the ability to assume a bit outdoors the field. And to try to discover different methods in attempting to maximise the efficiency of the automotive.
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“However the precise pleasure of driving the automotive is completely different.”
Fernando Alonso: “The chef can drive the automotive”Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
“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,” defined. “Right here in Bahrain, has been traditionally Flip 12 a really difficult nook. So, you used to decide on your downforce degree to go Flip 12 simply flat, so that you take away downforce till you’re in Flip 12 simply flat with new tyres.
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“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 velocity.
“However you do not wish to waste vitality since you wish to have it on the straights. However on the similar time, that is Formulation 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 received all of the races it was the downforce.”
Max Verstappen: “I take pleasure in driving flat out. You can not drive like that”Max Verstappen, Pink Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Pink Bull Racing
“To drive, [it’s] not loads of enjoyable, to be sincere,” mentioned Max Verstappen. “It isn’t very Formulation 1-like. It feels a bit extra like Formulation E on steroids. However the guidelines are the identical for everybody, so you must take care of that.
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“And that is additionally not my drawback, 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 mean time, you can not drive like that. There’s quite a bit happening. Lots of what you do as a driver, when it comes to inputs, has an enormous impact on the vitality aspect of issues.
“For me, that is simply not Formulation 1. Perhaps it is then higher to drive Formulation 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 similar time, I additionally know what’s at stake with the workforce. Our personal engine. And seeing the thrill of the individuals. After all, once I sit within the automotive, I’ll all the time give it my easiest.”
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Lando Norris: “I do not know if I assumed it could be simpler or tougher”Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLaren
“Lots of enjoyable, I actually loved it,” mentioned ’s Lando Norris. “Formulation 1 modifications on a regular basis, typically it is a bit higher to drive, typically it isn’t nearly as good to drive.
“I feel it is definitely probably the most completely different of my Formulation 1 vehicles that I’ve pushed. They’ve type of been all comparable modifications over time, and all have pushed in a reasonably comparable manner.
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“That is definitely the one which is probably 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 velocity and all these issues.
“So, I do not know if I assumed it could be simpler or tougher. It is a problem.”
Kimi Antonelli: “The automotive, I feel, is kind of good to drive”Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
“It is quite a bit completely different, however I have been fairly having fun with the automotive,” mentioned Kimi Antonelli. “After all, you will have much less downforce than final 12 months, much more energy on nook exit, which makes – particularly in a observe like this – the long term very tough, as a result of traction turns into very tough in the direction of the top.
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“However after all, there’s loads of adaptation that’s required and that is why we have to actually maximise the subsequent three days as a result of, clearly, we should be as prepared as potential going into Melbourne.
“I feel the automotive is lighter, it is a bit shorter, so it is extra agile. You recognize, low velocity, really, the sensation is kind of good since you actually really feel the automotive being extra agile. Clearly, the velocity is a bit much less, however on that aspect, you understand, the automotive, I feel, is kind of good to drive.”
Pierre Gasly: “I am extra going with an open thoughts into the season”Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Pierre Gasly, Alpine
“It is simply very completely different,” mentioned ’s . “On the finish of the day, we race in opposition to the most effective driver on this planet and we simply bought to do a greater job than the blokes sitting within the automotive subsequent to us, and bought to do a greater job as a workforce than the ten different groups within the paddock.
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“Yeah, you may favor a sure automotive – I do not wish to be dragged into Max and Lando’s feedback – I feel on my aspect I am extra going with an open thoughts into the season and after a pair races, you understand, we’ll have a greater understanding of how it’s when it comes to racing, driving itself.
“I feel 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 taking place with these vehicles. So, there’s a place to begin, it doesn’t suggest it will keep there ceaselessly and I am simply going to provide it a while.”
Esteban Ocon: “For the time being, it is too early to say”Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Crew
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Crew
“I feel the optimistic is that, clearly, it is a new problem for all of us,” mentioned Haas driver . “I’ve are available in F1 and it has been the identical rule set, as an example, since I joined, you understand, since 10 years: similar engine, very comparable, all the time, you understand, working with the identical instruments. Now clearly we’ve all the things to study once more.
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“Is it probably the most enjoyable to drive? Perhaps not essentially, but it surely’s fairly fascinating to try to get all the things sorted with the engineer and to try to get the utmost out of the state of affairs. You recognize, it is a new fashion of driving, it is a new manner of sorting issues out. If tomorrow, you understand, we go racing in Melbourne and there’s three overtakes a lap, I feel all people will say that is superb.
“So, I am extra on the cautious aspect the place we’ll see how this goes, if it promotes overtaking, if it promotes the present. If it does not, perhaps then some briefings might want to occur, however in the mean time it is too early to say that.”
Alex Albon: “There’s fairly large variations between groups”Alexander Albon, Williams
Alexander Albon, Williams
“The brand new automotive strikes round a bit greater than final 12 months’s,” remarked after his first laps with the FW48, after the workforce skipped the Barcelona shakedown. “Firstly, there’s fairly large variations between groups. I feel even simply being on the market on observe, you may see you observe a McLaren, you observe a Haas. Utterly completely different driving strains, alternative ways to get a lap time, completely different deployments across the lap.
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“So, I feel all the things 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 loads of pondering required. I feel that is additionally partly as a result of we miss Barcelona and we have got somewhat bit extra to atone for. However yeah, I am having fun with it.”
Valtteri Bottas: “It reminds extra of the vehicles from 2014 into 2016”Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac Racing
Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac Racing
“It is fairly completely different,” mentioned Cadillac’s . “For me, undoubtedly feeling-wise within the automotive, it reminds extra of the vehicles from 2014 into 2016. You recognize, the sensation is you are sliding a bit extra, you will have much less downforce, however then the ability out of the corners is kind of good.
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“It is rather a lot in comparison with the grip we’ve. So, for instance, the throttle utility 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 loads of studying in the mean time”Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls
“It is fairly robust to drive,” mentioned . “Particularly right here, we’ve loads of tyre deg, so there’s much more sliding happening this 12 months. And it’s fairly tough to drive.
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“I might say, there’s loads of studying in the mean time attempting to optimise driving this automotive. Between quick 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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