Midway by means of the 2026 Components 1 season, the brand new technical rules – with a a lot better 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 to this point, in response to its Components 1 Fan Voice programme. This consists of a gaggle of 60,000 followers who fee the leisure worth of every grand prix.
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In line with F1, 60% of that group rated final 12 months’s races as “good” or “glorious”, whereas that determine has risen to 66% in 2026.
Curiously, regardless of all of the power administration points, F1 says Spa’s score elevated by 24%, whereas the Hungarian Grand Prix – which many hardcore followers thought-about probably the most natural-looking race of the primary half of the season – acquired precisely the identical score because it did a 12 months in the past.
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In line with F1’s personal knowledge, solely the British Grand Prix acquired a considerably decrease score than final 12 months. F1 attributes that to the race ending behind the protection automotive and to the truth that the 2025 British Grand Prix is described as “very eventful”.
Followers
Drivers, nonetheless, have been way more vital. Max Verstappen instantly labelled the present rules “Components E on steroids” throughout winter testing, and has since been backed up by a lot of his fellow drivers.
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Notably at energy-starved circuits reminiscent of Silverstone and Spa, drivers discovered the 2026 vehicles painful to drive. Oscar Piastri additionally pointed to the facility models’ “self-learning components”, which means drivers could be caught out by “forward-thinking algorithms”.
Talking throughout a media name at first of the summer time break, F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali however burdened that the game as a complete is in a really robust place.
“I feel the scenario that we live at present is admittedly nice,” Domenicali mentioned. “The championship is admittedly on the highest when it comes to individuals following, individuals which might be coming to the monitor and other people which might be, in any case, new or outdated followers appreciating the success of the issues we’re doing.”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 at first of the 12 months, the Italian responded: “You already know me, we aren’t 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 responsibility, , to have a line. There are particular drivers that want, in fact, sure issues. I feel that within the course of we have now highlighted the should be constructive in that respect.”
Domenicali mentioned it is very important perceive how the FIA and F1 ended up on this place.
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When discussions concerning the present rules first started, the automotive trade was clearly pushing in the 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 transformation was related to a motive, and that was an important motive,” Domenicali mentioned. “In any other case, we might be right here to speak about our sport, one other sport. In order that has been adjusted.”
Domenicali burdened that drivers’ feedback want to stay constructive, as in his view no one 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 completed once more with Verstappen.
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Max Verstappen, Pink Bull Racing, Stefano Domenicali, CEO of the Components One Group
Max Verstappen, Pink Bull Racing, Stefano Domenicali, CEO of the Components One Group
“I feel that, as me, I want to debate issues [between] 4 partitions to seek out options,” he added.
“However as I mentioned, I feel that the extra you might be vocal on sure issues which might be out of the scheme, the extra the negativity will not be on the game. It is turning into on the private facet. So, I feel 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 a complete, together with from a industrial perspective.
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“And in that respect, as I mentioned, very effectively how a lot I respect the jewel which might be our drivers. However in fact, 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 responsibility to make a abstract of what’s the finest for the game.
“However I feel that the scenario may be very robust, very strong, with all of the stakeholders at present. So, we have to look forward and ensure that the game is rising, as I mentioned, all collectively in the suitable means.”
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