Mercedes F1 driver George Russell believes circuits with greater calls for on energy and vitality will result in “fascinating” races in 2026.
F1’s new car rules for 2026 are designed to encourage extra aggressive on-track habits.
Nevertheless, throughout pre-season testing, drivers expressed pessimism concerning the new automotive’s capacity to comply with different automobiles in turbulence.
Vitality administration has additionally been a key matter this winter, and Russell believes it will finally result in fascinating racing at circuits with greater energy calls for.
“Properly, you possibly can positively observe it as a result of there’s much less aerodynamics within the automotive so there’s much less disturbance,” Russell mentioned.
“And the large distinction between this 12 months and former eras is that the vitality deployment between automotive and driver is totally different, relying on the driving fashion.
“It is most likely rather more than aviation turbulence.
“I feel you will note totally different races in locations like Melbourne and Jeddah the place there are a whole lot of lengthy straights.
“I feel the race will probably be very fascinating.”
4-time world champion Max Verstappen has been one of the crucial vocal critics of the brand new guidelines, branding them “anti-racing” and “Components E on steroids.”
Many drivers echoed his feedback, with Lando Norris saying the 2026 automotive shouldn’t be as “pure” to drive because the earlier era.
Nevertheless, Russell defended the change in fashion that drivers have needed to make, evaluating it to a video he had seen of Ayrton Senna.
“The essential ideas are nonetheless just about the identical: you attempt to push the automotive to its absolute restrict, brake as onerous as potential and as late as potential, and attempt to undergo the corners with as a lot velocity as potential,” he added.
“I feel each period of automobiles has their driving habits.
“I’ve seen Senna onboard within the ’80s and ’90s, and he drove in a really distinctive fashion, the place he would muff the throttle on the apex of the nook to maintain the turbo spinning and hold the automotive balanced.
“That is uncommon too. We’re doing somewhat extra lift-and-coast right here than you most likely would usually count on.
“However within the assessments right here in Bahrain and Barcelona, I did not really feel too unhealthy. It is perhaps a unique story in Melbourne, however I am actually having fun with it.”
