Midway via the 2026 System 1 season, the brand new technical laws – with a a lot higher emphasis on electrical energy and power administration – proceed to divide opinion amongst followers and drivers.
F1 says its fanbase has responded largely positively to the races thus far, in keeping with its System 1 Fan Voice programme. This consists of a gaggle of 60,000 followers who charge the leisure worth of every grand prix.
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In response to F1, 60% of that group rated final yr’s races as “good” or “wonderful”, whereas that determine has risen to 66% in 2026.
Curiously, regardless of all of the power administration points, F1 says Spa’s ranking elevated by 24%, whereas the Hungarian Grand Prix – which many hardcore followers thought of probably the most natural-looking race of the primary half of the season – obtained precisely the identical ranking because it did a yr in the past.
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In response to F1’s personal knowledge, solely the British Grand Prix obtained a considerably decrease ranking than final yr. F1 attributes that to the race ending behind the security automotive and to the truth that the 2025 British Grand Prix is described as “very eventful”.
Followers
Drivers, nevertheless, have been way more vital. Max Verstappen instantly labelled the present laws “System E on steroids” throughout winter testing, and has since been backed up by lots of his fellow drivers.
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Significantly at energy-starved circuits corresponding to Silverstone and Spa, drivers discovered the 2026 automobiles painful to drive. Oscar Piastri additionally pointed to the ability models’ “self-learning parts”, which means drivers could be caught out by “forward-thinking algorithms”.
Talking throughout a media name in the beginning of the summer season break, F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali however pressured that the game as an entire is in a really sturdy place.
“I believe the state of affairs that we live right this moment is admittedly nice,” Domenicali stated. “The championship is admittedly on the highest when it comes to individuals following, individuals which are coming to the monitor and folks which are, in any case, new or outdated followers appreciating the success of the issues we’re doing.”
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Requested by Motorsport.com whether or not the criticism from drivers had been stronger than F1 anticipated in the beginning of the yr, the Italian responded: “You recognize me, we’re not right here to place the tape on the mouth of anybody. I imply, the fantastic thing about our sport is that everybody can have an opinion, however the opinion is an opinion.
“There’s somebody that has the obligation, you already know, to have a line. There are particular drivers that choose, after all, sure issues. I believe that within the course of we now have highlighted the must be constructive in that respect.”
Domenicali stated it is very important perceive how the FIA and F1 ended up on this place.
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When discussions concerning the present laws first started, the automotive business was clearly pushing in direction of electrification. To keep away from ending up with solely two engine producers, the game needed to transfer in that path to some extent.
“I’m going again to the factor that this alteration was related to a purpose, and that was a significant purpose,” Domenicali stated. “In any other case, we’d be right here to speak about our sport, one other sport. In order that has been adjusted.”
Domenicali pressured that drivers’ feedback want to stay constructive, as in his view no person advantages from pure negativity. That’s the reason he prefers to debate such issues behind closed doorways, one thing he has not too long ago accomplished once more with Verstappen.
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Max Verstappen, Crimson Bull Racing, Stefano Domenicali, CEO of the System One Group
Max Verstappen, Crimson Bull Racing, Stefano Domenicali, CEO of the System One Group
“I believe that, as you already know me, I choose to debate issues [between] 4 partitions to seek out options,” he added.
“However as I stated, I believe that the extra you’re vocal on sure issues which are out of the scheme, the extra the negativity shouldn’t be on the game. It is changing into on the non-public facet. So, I believe that everybody understood that.”
Lastly, Domenicali emphasised that as F1’s CEO he has to have a look at the larger image – not solely the criticism from drivers, but in addition what’s finest for the game as an entire, together with from a industrial perspective.
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“And in that respect, as I stated, you already know very nicely how a lot I respect the jewel which are our drivers. However after all, they should perceive that there’s one path we have to take collectively.
“And the followers are at all times a precedence on high of everybody, even me. They [the drivers] can have a private opinion, however I’ve the obligation to make a abstract of what’s the finest for the game.
“However I believe that the state of affairs could be very sturdy, very stable, with all of the stakeholders right this moment. So, we have to look forward and guarantee that the game is rising, as I stated, all collectively in the proper means.”
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