Present F1 world champion Lando Norris believes the 2026 automobile will make it “extra difficult to know learn how to put together for overtaking”.
F1’s main regulatory overhaul for the 2026 season is aimed toward bettering on-track spectacle after earlier floor impact automobiles had been discovered to make overtaking tough.
In addition to having much less downforce than earlier than, drivers now have energetic aerodynamics and extra battery energy at their disposal to extend overtaking possibilities.
Nonetheless, McLaren’s Lando Norris believes overtaking setups will probably be “extra advanced” this season as a result of all the brand new programs, significantly concerning power administration, and expects “chaos” to happen.
“I believe in the meanwhile there’s a bit of bit extra emphasis on how the motive force can handle and deal with all this stuff,” he mentioned at a current media occasion attended by McLaren. crash internet.
“I believe it is going to be extra difficult to know, whether or not it is on the qualifying lap or in a race scenario, learn how to put together for overtaking, and so on.
“Earlier than, it was quite simple when it comes to driving as quick as potential whereas avoiding soiled air, and it was very straightforward to cost the battery in an excellent and environment friendly means.
“When you save your battery, you’re going to lose lots of time, and also you’re going to lose some huge cash on the straights.
“So it is simply understanding this stuff. Loads of it’s engineering and calculations, however drivers sometimes have to use all of this stuff to get the job finished on time.”
“So I believe we will see extra confusion in races the place drivers have to determine all of the totally different conditions that may occur.
“And that may occur all year long. I believe there will probably be extra emphasis on how drivers cope with this stuff.”
The brand new laws for 2026 additionally intention to make it simpler for automobiles to observe one another and to additional encourage overtaking.
However Oscar Piastri believes that those that count on elementary modifications on this regard are “joking”.
“I don’t assume we all know sufficient about following but,” he mentioned.
“I’ve adopted some automobiles and particularly in testing, you do not know what gasoline somebody is on and what tires they’re on, in fact once you’re within the automobile.
“It is laborious to get credit score for it, however I believe individuals who count on elementary enhancements are in all probability kidding themselves a bit of bit.
“That is nonetheless an F1 automobile. Any single-seater is tough to observe, whether or not it is an F4 automobile, F3 automobile or F2 automobile.
“So F1 automobiles have gotten tougher due to the elevated downforce. I believe we’re transferring in the suitable route, however solely time will inform. However there may be definitely nonetheless soiled air round.”
