“A bit strange” - How drivers are adapting to F1’s ‘new normal'

F1 drivers are having to adapt to a “new normal” ahead of the 2026 season.

The new-for-2026 rules and near 50/50 split between internal combustion and electric power has changed the way drivers get the best out of their challengers, and has placed a huge amount of focus on energy management and the regeneration of batteries.

This has led to F1 drivers lifting and coasting on the straights during qualifying simulations and having to back off before the end of laps to optimise their energy levels and get the best possible lap time.

Drivers have had split opinions of the new cars and regulations, with F1’s four active world champions Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen, Fernando Alonso and Lando Norris all making negative comments.

Ollie Bearman admitted the new cars feel “a bit strange” and require driving styles to be adapted.

“Some corners on this track, which were last year limitations or places that you had to be aware of are not really corners anymore,” the Haas driver explained.

“They're more power limited, like Turn 12 and Turn 11, so you do change the way that you approach those corners and where last year, Turn 12, you were 40 kph faster, this year it's not really a corner anymore.

“That is a bit strange. But for the rest, I think you're still pushing to the limit, even if the limit is a bit lower at the moment, but it's not feeling out of this world. I think once we get used to the differences in some corners, you just adapt your driving style and then it feels like the new normal.”

Unlike many of his rivals, Mercedes’ George Russell is not concerned about the changes, insisting he is finding the 2026 F1 cars enjoyable.

“The guiding principles are still very much the same,” he said.

“You're pushing the car to the absolute limit. You're trying to brake as hard as possible and as late as possible and carry as much speed [as possible] through the corners.

“I think every single era of cars, there is a quirk of driving. I’ve watched the Senna on boards from the 80s and 90s where he's driving in a very unique driving style, blipping throttle round the apex of corners to keep the turbo spinning and balancing the car and that's also abnormal.

“Here, we're maybe doing a bit more lift and coast than you would ordinarily expect. But here in Bahrain and the test in Barcelona, it really didn't feel that bad. Now, Melbourne may be a different story, but so far I'm quite enjoying it.”