Reigning F1 world champion Lando Norris has described the new 2026 regulations as ‘frustrating’ after an outing at the Nurburgring this week.
Norris has been largely onside so far with the wholesale regulation changes in F1, while some of his rivals have been less than complimentary in the early stages of the 2026 season.
Max Verstappen is understood to be ‘seriously considering’ quitting the sport partly because of the new rules, which he has constantly berated and suggested that the new cars are ‘not fun’ to drive.
Lewis Hamilton, meanwhile, has described the new cars as the ‘best racing’ that he has experienced in his long, illustrious F1 career.
“These cars are certainly very different to the cars from last year, and the differences are quite complex,” Norris told McLaren’s official website. “Some of which I enjoy, some of which I’ve found a bit more difficult so far.
“Last year we had loads of downforce, cars that really felt like they were on rails when we got them dialled in and what felt like never-ending speed, however when you lost grip, that was it, you were just losing time at best or heading for the gravel. That could be quite frustrating as it didn’t feel like you could make as much of a difference yourself as a driver, you needed the car underneath you and needed to ensure you stayed within the limits of the car.
“This year the cars are much much lower downforce and much more on the limit. You can catch slides more easily, and the slightly lower grip makes for a very exciting car to drive. As a car, I’m enjoying driving them, they remind me of some of the cars I drove coming up through the junior series, and I say that as a big compliment, you really feel like you can make a difference.
“I’ve said before that it’s not the car I’m struggling with, it’s the bit behind us that I’m not enjoying as much – the power unit regulations. I had a scenario in Japan where the battery deployment triggered, even though I didn’t really want it to, and I had to overtake Lewis as a result.
“That meant I was then a sitting duck on the next straight, where I had actually wanted to use the battery. For me, that’s taking too much control away from the driver, but I know that the FIA and all the stakeholders of the sport are looking into it: there has been good dialogue with the FIA on this topic, so I am confident that something will be done for when we go racing in Miami again.”
Will changes be made to the FIA regulations before the Miami GP?
It’s likely that we will see some changes to regulations ahead of the next race on the calendar, the Miami Grand Prix at the start of May.
The FIA met earlier this month to discuss if any changes needed to be made to the sporting regulations, and they confirmed that it would be one of three meetings to take place ahead of the Miami Grand Prix in May.
They’ve suggested that the April 20 meeting will be to go through the proposed options for energy management rule tweaks, agreeing on a consensus for the way in which the season will proceed.
Sam Cook is a talented young sports journalist and social media professional who now specialises in Formula 1, having previously worked as a football journalist and a local news reporter for a variety of different brands.
11 teams on the F1 grid? Rubbish. We want more! We want 12! And, apparently, a former team principal wants that too.
Otmar Szafnauer was in the paddock for some time with Racing Point and Alpine, among others, and is now CEO and managing partner of Van Amersfoort Racing in F2 – with ambitions for more.
The Romanian-American team boss revealed that he and VAR owner Rafael Villagómez Sr. were looking at fighting Cadillac to be the 11th team on the grid, and told GPBlog that they want to take up a place alongside them as Team 12 if the opportunity arises.
The ambitious pair are also looking at the possibility of an IndyCar team, Szafnauer revealed, with Prema potentially on the menu as their well publicised financial issues continue.
Szafnauer revealed: “The owner and I were looking at potentially collaborating on a Formula 1 team, which could still happen if there’s something interesting either for sale or the 12th team opens up.
“I developed a relationship with the owner when we were looking at starting the 11th team, but then Cadillac got it. And now, when they open up the possibility of a 12th team, we want to do that too or buy into something.”
“Through all that discussion, he said to me ‘well, look in the meantime, why don’t you come help me at Van Amersfoort’, because he just bought Van Amersfoort a few years ago and expanded it.
“So I said ‘okay, I’ll come and help you with Van Amersfoort. But for me to do that, I don’t want to just be an employee. I’d like to be your partner’.”
It’s unclear whether the appetite currently exists among the 11 teams to add a twelfth to their ranks, with owners typically reluctant to give up a slice of their revenue – with prize money and the like being split an extra way with an added team.
F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has also warned that expanding to a 12-team grid would introduce serious logistical issues, with some pit lanes and paddocks already tight on room.
“We have to be cautious,” he said last year. “We’ll only evaluate a bid of great significance because I think we’re already at a point with no more room – logistically we’re at the limit.”
F1 icon and seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton has admitted that even though he’s enjoyed his success, he’s still experienced loneliness in his career.
Hamilton has always been frank about his own struggles on and off the racetrack throughout his career, particularly in regards to his mental health.
During his F1 career, while he has experienced major highs in the form of 105 race victories, he has also endured severe lows such as his retirement at the 2007 Chinese Grand Prix.
Despite his struggles, Hamilton has always maintained a strong support network in F1, particularly from his family including father Anthony and mother Carmen, who he credited in a recent appearance in a video for Formula 1.
F1’s latest YouTube video, titled ‘So You Think You Know F1 Drivers’, saw Hamilton being asked the question: ‘What’s the hardest lesson that success was taught you?’
To this, Hamilton honestly replied: “Having success is is not all that it’s cracked up to be. It can be lonely at the top, especially when you’re the first.
“It’s nothing without family and without your team and without people that you rally with. And if you can’t share it and be in the moment, then it’s kind of all for nothing.”
Hamilton’s F1 career in stats
Hamilton has the most grand prix victories, pole positions and podiums of any other driver, enjoying a record-breaking career with McLaren and Mercedes, with hopes of more at Ferrari.
Total F1 wins: 105 Grand Prix victories
Total pole positions: 104 (all‑time F1 record)
Total podiums: 203
World titles: 7
Hamilton’s 105 Grand Prix wins are split between McLaren and Mercedes, with his Ferrari chapter still winless.
His most recent victory in Japan, however, came in the same week as an Italian sporting nightmare.
The national football team failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the third World Cup in a row that they have not qualified for.
Italy won the 2020 European Championships, but have struggled in terms of European qualification groups for World Cups.
Their underperformance has not been lost on Antonelli, who is determined to do his country proud by continuing to be victorious in F1 as the 2026 season progresses.
“Obviously, it’s a shame we’re not going to the World Cup this year,” Antonelli told Tuttosport. “I have wonderful memories of the European Championships.
“I remember being at the European Championship race in Naples, in Sarno, and after winning the race, my mother and I rushed to the car and drove home as quickly as possible because we wanted to watch the European Championship final.
“That was a wonderful time, because seeing the national team play in the European Championships was truly beautiful.
“Obviously, I was really disappointed not to see the national team qualify for the World Cup. It’s one more reason to try to continue to bring Italy to the top in my field.”
While Italian football fans are likely in despair at their country’s failure, Italian F1 fans are riding the crest of a wave at the moment, with Antonelli and Ferrari performing so well in F1 2026.
Italy has not had a serious contender for the drivers’ championship arguably since Alberto Ascari won it back in 1953.
Riccardo Patrese came a very distant second in the 1992 standings, while 1978 world champion Mario Andretti was born in Italy but was a US citizen and represented the US when racing in the sport.
Antonelli has the tools to become world champion, with Mercedes the dominant team in 2026, but time will tell as to whether he can sustain a challenge all-season long against his much more experienced team-mate George Russell, and with the Ferraris and McLarens closing behind.
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