Lando Norris Slams New F1 Regulations as “Worst” in History | 2026 Cars

MELBOURNE, Australia – Reigning Formula One World Champion Lando Norris delivered a scathing critique of the sport’s latest regulations following qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix, calling the current cars “probably the worst” in Formula One history. The frustration comes as the sport navigates a significant overhaul of its power units and aerodynamic design, changes that have demonstrably impacted performance and driver experience.

The shift to a powertrain where almost 50% is comprised of a battery has created a unique challenge for drivers, requiring careful management of energy recovery during braking and deceleration. What we have is particularly noticeable at Albert Park, where the track’s layout – lacking significant twisty sections – forces drivers to lift and coast to maintain optimal battery levels. The result, according to Norris, is a compromised driving experience and a substantial drop in performance.

The impact of the new regulations was starkly illustrated during Saturday’s qualifying session. George Russell of Mercedes secured pole position with a lap time of 1:18.518, a full 3.422 seconds slower than Norris’s pole time at the same track last year, despite both sessions being held in dry conditions. Russell’s teammate, Kimi Antonelli, secured a front-row lockout for Mercedes, further highlighting the team’s early advantage under the new rules. Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc rounded out the top four.

Norris himself qualified in sixth position, alongside fellow McLaren driver Oscar Piastri in fifth. Max Verstappen, after a qualifying crash that required medical evaluation, will start from 20th on the grid, having been cleared to race by F1 medics following X-rays on his hands. Despite the clearance, the reigning World Champion faces a significant uphill battle in Sunday’s race.

“We’ve come from the best cars ever made in Formula One, and the nicest to drive, to probably the worst,” Norris stated bluntly. “It sucks. Everyone knows what the issues are. It’s just the fact the engine is a 50-50 split and it just doesn’t work.” He elaborated on the difficulties of managing the battery, explaining the need to decelerate significantly before corners and the delicate balance required to avoid compromising performance.

The issues extend beyond battery management. Norris also cited concerns about visibility, explaining that he damaged his front wing after running over a cooling fan that detached from Kimi Antonelli’s car, an incident he attributed to needing to focus on his steering wheel to monitor speed. He revealed that approximately 20 of the 22 drivers on the grid voiced similar concerns during a meeting on Friday.

Other drivers have echoed Norris’s sentiments. Liam Lawson, of Racing Bulls, described the new regulations as “challenging” and the cars as “not super fun to drive” in a recent radio interview. He noted that the cars are smaller and “a little bit more playful,” but also acknowledged that the reduction in aerodynamic downforce limits the ability to attack corners aggressively.

The performance disparity has prompted McLaren boss Zak Brown to suggest that some of the new rules may need to be revisited after the race, particularly if they result in a less compelling spectacle for viewers. Oscar Piastri, while more reserved in his comments, confirmed that the McLaren car is down approximately 450 horsepower in certain corners compared to last year’s model.

“I think everyone can witness the state of things,” Piastri said. “I think it will probably improve a bit but there are clearly some fundamental things that won’t be very easy to fix. I don’t really know what we do about that. It will be better at different tracks. We will have different challenges at other tracks.”

Piastri faces a challenging race, needing to overcome a fifth-place start to achieve a podium finish – a feat not accomplished by an Australian driver at Albert Park in 12 years. With Mercedes appearing to have established a clear advantage, Piastri’s hopes may rest on capitalizing on any opportunities that arise during the race, or simply securing a podium position, which would be the first for an Australian driver at this track since the race became part of the F1 championship in 1985.

The Australian Grand Prix promises to be a fascinating test of both driver skill and engineering adaptability, as teams grapple with the challenges presented by the new regulations. The outcome will undoubtedly shape the early stages of the 2026 Formula One season and potentially influence future rule changes.