‘More study than any other era’ - Hamilton on learning F1’s new rules

Lewis Hamilton says he has had to do “much more study than any other era” of Formula 1 to get on top of the new regulations for 2026.

F1 has undergone its biggest-ever rules reset, with new narrower, smaller and lighter cars introduced alongside overhauled engines featuring a near 50-50 split between combustion and electrical power.

The new generation of cars feature moveable aerodynamics and a host of tools at the drivers disposal, including an ‘overtake’ mode and ‘boost’ button.

These new elements have changed the way drivers go racing, with energy management playing a huge role in determining wheel-to-wheel battles. Drivers short on battery are left vulnerable to being re-passed, leading to what some have dubbed as ‘yo-yo’ racing.

Seven-time world champion Hamilton revealed the dedication needed to understand the complexity of the new-for-2026 regulations.

Asked if it has been tough learning the intricacies of F1’s new rules over the winter, Hamilton replied: “Very much so. I think in testing actually I didn’t really get to experience it.

“It’s really more in these three races that we’ve had, with the Sprint race and this race and obviously Melbourne, that it’s really become apparent when you’re surrounded by the cars in the fight what battery usage is like, and when you have the boost, how to utilise it and all those sorts of things.

“So, very, very challenging. I don’t necessarily feel a huge step compared to these guys [Mercedes] – when the boost is there, when you’re within that one second, they’re still pulling away on the straight. So we overall just need more.

"But it is much more study, I would say, than any other era that I’ve had, and you have to be very, very meticulous and pay attention to the fine detail.”

The new rules have divided opinion, with Max Verstappen repeating his criticism of F1’s new-look after the Chinese Grand Prix with his most scathing attack to date.

"If someone likes this, then you really don't know what racing is like,” the Red Bull driver said. “Not fun at all. Playing Mario Kart. This is not racing. Boosting past, then you run out of battery, the next straight they boost past you again. For me, it's just a joke."

Hamilton, who claimed a long-awaited first podium for Ferrari with a third-place finish behind the Mercedes duo in Shanghai, described his battle with team-mate Charles Leclerc as “the best racing I’ve ever experienced in F1”.