Lando Norris' damning verdict: 'F1 has gone from best to worst cars’

Lando Norris believes Formula 1 has gone from “the best cars ever” to “probably the worst” with the new regulations for 2026.

The reigning world champion joined Max Verstappen in heavily criticising F1’s new generation of cars after qualifying at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.

Verstappen has continually bashed the 2026 rules and Norris is in full agreement, with the McLaren driver delivering a downbeat assessment, quipping he could talk about how bad the cars are “for hours”.

Norris qualified in sixth place behind McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri as George Russell claimed a dominant pole position ahead of team-mate Andrea Kimi Antonelli, with Mercedes underlining its pre-season favourite tag.

"I think everyone knows what the issues are," Norris said. "It's just the fact it's a 50-50 split and it just doesn't work. Straightline mode means you've got a lot of other issues at hand.

"You decelerate so much before corners, you have to lift everywhere to make sure the [battery] pack's at the top. If the pack's too high, you're also screwed. It's just difficult, but it's what we have. It doesn't feel good as a driver, but I'm sure George is smiling. You've just got to maximise what you're going to give him.

"We've come from the best cars ever made in Formula 1 and the nicest to drive to probably the worst. It sucks, but you have to live with it.”

Asked if he enjoyed any part of driving the new generation of F1 cars, Norris replied: “Not really, no.”

Lewis Hamilton, who has also been vocal in his criticism of the new F1 cars, commented: “The car’s really nice to drive, it’s just the power. The power’s really good when you’ve got it, but it just doesn’t last.

“We’re starting the lap half-throttle coming out of the last corner and for a quarter of the straight. Then you go on the throttle.

“It’s completely against what F1 is about, which is flat-out attack, and we’re lifting and coasting. That element is not very good, and I don’t think the drivers like it.”

Hamilton said he didn’t have much to say in a heated drivers’ briefing on Friday.

“I didn’t really say much. I wasn’t paying attention,” the seven-time world champion admitted.

“It doesn’t really make a difference what I say in there. We were just trying to work together with the FIA to try and see if we can get everything to be better.”

After qualifying third on the grid, Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar was not exactly complimentary of the new cars.

“I think the chassis is pretty good, and the rest, I’m not a fan,” the Frenchman responded when asked for his thoughts.

Meanwhile, Lance Stroll added: “I think everyone has their opinion on it, but I think it would just be nice to have some cars that sound good with a little bit less complicated, just more like normal, good racing.

“We have the green fuel now. We could go racing with sustainable fuel now, so we could go racing with engines that sound really good and like cars. And it’s a shame as a sport we’re not doing that.”