Lewis Hamilton has admitted his doubts over whether the 2026 regulations will be accepted by drivers and teams going into next season. With the new powertrain coming under scrutiny, the seven-time Formula 1 world champion has given his take.
Talking ahead of the 2025 Dutch Grand Prix, he said: “No, because no one’s ever happy in this sport.
“That’s the name of the game, because you always want to evolve. I don’t know how it’s going to be next year.
“It could be great, it could not be. We’ll see.”
Next year’s regulations represent one of the largest technical overhauls since the introduction of hybrid power units in 2014. With a 50-50 split between internal combustion and electric power, the electrical output will triple to 350kW.
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Photo by: Kym Illman / Getty Images
But following simulator sessions, drivers haven’t exactly greeted the changes with praise. Hamilton’s team-mate Charles Leclerc was relatively subdued after his simulator work.
“Let’s say it’s not the most enjoyable race car I’ve driven so far but we are still in a moment where the project is relatively new,” he admitted. “My hope relies in the fact that it will evolve quite a bit in the next few months but it’s no secret that I think the regulations for next year is going to be a lot more… probably less enjoyable for drivers to drive.
“So yeah, I’m not a big fan of it for now but it’s the way it is and at the end of the day I think there’s a challenge and I would like the challenge of maximising a very different car to what it is at the moment.
“But do I enjoy it? Probably not.”
According to Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, the cars will be capable of 400km/h.
“When full power is applied, we’re pushing the 400km/h limit,” he told Auto Motor und Sport.
The new cars will also be smaller and 30kg lighter while creating less downforce and drag. DRS will be swapped for a minimum-drag mode. A manual override mode will also allow drivers to add more electrical power to aid in overtaking.
The FIA is well aware of these comments. Changes have already been made to the original specifications, and this will continue throughout 2025.
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