How F1's regulation change highlights the gap between the haves and the have-nots

Sainz: F1 reg change highlights capability gap between midfield and top teams (Jap Thurs transcript)

Carlos Sainz believes the 2026 Formula 1 regulations have highlighted the magnitude of the gap between the top teams and those in the midfield, despite rules designed to close the pack.

Ahead of the 2021 season, F1 introduced regulations limiting the aerodynamic development and CFD time each team could use, with this decided on a sliding scale based on recent success, with those at the front granted less time than those towards the back.

Last year, this meant that most teams in the midfield or lower, elected to shelve their 2025 machinery at the earliest moment, to maximise the opportunity of 2026.

However, other than Red Bull slipping into the midfield, the top order has remained largely unchanged, something that Sainz claims shows the different levels within F1.

“I think not only us, but every team that is not the top four teams this year has realised how far the midfield teams are from the top teams,” he said.

“You need a regulation change to realise the process of how far you are from the top teams' organisation, and the processes that they have. Because the fact that a top team last year with less wind tunnel hours, with less time, with more development in 2025 investing in development, was able to produce cars a second quicker than any of the midfield cars, for me, it just shows that if you want to jump from the midfield to being a top team, the jump is much bigger than anyone could expect.

“If you asked me last year at this time of the year, we’re going to have more wind tunnel hours, we’re going to have more time to develop, we’re not going to invest in our ‘25 car, we’re just going to prepare for ‘26, you’d think we were going to be close to the top teams.

“But the reality is the opposite. You are further away. This new regulation, if anything, it has shown all the midfield teams that we have a lot of work to do if we want to match the top teams.”

Asked if he is already feeling the benefit of additional testing time compared to the likes of Mercedes, McLaren, and Ferrari, Sainz added: “No, not on that.

“I think aero-wise, our car is a bit of a different concept to the top guys. We want to for sure have a look at what the top teams are doing. Last year, we saw, with no change of regulations, that our team is capable of producing good downforce.

“Our car last year had some serious downforce. That’s why in Qatar last year, we were able to get a podium.

“The car needed to be good around Qatar to produce a podium on merit. I’m pretty sure, as soon as we find the right way on the development side, the team will be able to deliver good load.

“I think it’s just for the start of the season, between the weight and the load, we haven’t got things right. But I’m hopeful that once we find the right way, we are able to start adding improvements.”