Drivers Frustrated by 2026 F1 Rules at Suzuka

Racers say new energy management regulations have robbed classic Japanese circuit of its challenge.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 8:30pm

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Drivers have voiced strong criticism of the 2026 Formula 1 regulations following the Japanese Grand Prix, with many feeling the new rules have taken away the challenge of driving at the iconic Suzuka circuit. Concerns have been raised about qualifying, where energy management has become a dominant factor over raw speed, as well as the pedestrian feel of high-speed corners where drivers are forced to conserve electrical power.

Why it matters

The issues highlighted at Suzuka have added further momentum to the debate over the 2026 regulations, with drivers hopeful that meaningful changes can be implemented in time for the upcoming Miami Grand Prix. However, there are doubts about how much the governing body and teams will be willing to alter the rules midseason given the complex political and technical factors involved.

The details

Several drivers, including Carlos Sainz, Lando Norris, and Fernando Alonso, have expressed their disappointment with how the new regulations have impacted the driving experience at Suzuka. Sainz described how pushing harder in qualifying actually resulted in a slower overall lap time due to the energy management demands. Alonso went as far as to say that even 50% of the team members could now drive the Suzuka circuit, as the high-speed corners have become 'charging stations' rather than true challenges for driver skill.

  • The Japanese Grand Prix took place on March 26, 2026.
  • The drivers discussed the 2026 regulations with key stakeholders, including the FIA's Nikolas Tombazis, on the Friday before the race.

The players

Carlos Sainz

A Williams driver who expressed disappointment with how the new energy management regulations impacted his qualifying performance at Suzuka.

Lando Norris

A driver who acknowledged that Suzuka no longer feels as challenging as it did in previous years due to the 2026 rules.

Fernando Alonso

A veteran driver who was highly critical of how the new regulations have reduced the skill required to drive the Suzuka circuit.

Lewis Hamilton

A driver who is not optimistic that significant changes to the 2026 rules will be implemented before the upcoming Miami Grand Prix.

Nikolas Tombazis

The FIA official who was the key architect of the 2026 Formula 1 regulations.

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What they’re saying

“Bit disappointed in quali as the more you pushed, the slower you went. I went quicker in every corner, slower in every straight, and [overall] I went one-tenth slower. And that's simply because I spent more time full throttle, because I went faster in the corners and pushed harder in the high-speed, pushed everywhere. And super clipping came into the deployment a bit, and a bit of lift and coasting also in that quali lap. So overall, not good enough, I think, for F1.”

— Carlos Sainz, Williams driver

“Comparing to last year and the previous few years? Certainly not. Still hurts your soul when you see your speed dropping so much – 56 kph down the straight. It still feels quick. It's not like the lap times are miles off; 26.9 was pole last year, and it's a couple of seconds. Which is a lot, it's also not a huge amount. So it still feels special. It still feels like it's an on-edge lap, and you're taking risks here and there and so forth. Does it feel as amazing as last year? No, I don't think any track will, but we have to get used to that.”

— Lando Norris

“I told you in Bahrain, Turn 12, the chef could drive the car now. Maybe not the chef – 50% of the team members, I think, at least, can drive in Suzuka. Because, as I said a few times already, high-speed corners now become the charging station for the car. So you go slow there, you charge the battery at high speed, and then you have the full power on the straight. So driver skill is not really needed anymore.”

— Fernando Alonso

“I'm not expecting much from it, but I hope they make some big changes. There'll be a lot of chefs in the kitchen. And it doesn't usually end up with a good result!”

— Lewis Hamilton

“Listening to the team and the FIA yesterday – Nikolas – they seemed to be pushing and have a plan in mind. I'm a bit worried that the teams will push back. Some teams will be against changing it too much, because they have other interests. But I think we've made it very clear from the drivers that it needs to get better, and hopefully the FIA listens more to the drivers.”

— Carlos Sainz, GPDA director

What’s next

The rules will be reviewed with all the knowledge gained over the first three races, and with the Middle Eastern events cancelled and a big gap in the schedule, there is time for changes to be implemented for the upcoming Miami Grand Prix, with qualifying being the main focus.

The takeaway

The issues highlighted by drivers at the Suzuka circuit have intensified the debate around the 2026 Formula 1 regulations, with many feeling the new energy management rules have robbed classic tracks of their challenge. While the governing body and teams will discuss potential changes, there are doubts about how much can be realistically achieved mid-season given the complex political and technical factors involved.