Even after winning in Melbourne, George Russell voiced serious concerns about Formula 1’s new technical direction. If the FIA reacts, the ripple effects could reach drivers like Franco Colapinto.
Franco Colapinto could be betrayed internally, which could have consequences for him in the 2026 Formula 1 season. George Russell won the Australian Grand Prix, but the Mercedes driver is unhappy with the new technical direction of Formula 1.
Despite starting from pole position and achieving a dominant victory, the Briton has expressed his dissatisfaction with the current regulations. The new technical regulations made their debut at the season opener in Melbourne. Not only were electrification-focused power units introduced, but also an active aerodynamics system that allows drivers to switch between “straight” mode to minimize drag and “cornering” mode to maximize downforce.
Although Mercedes achieved a double podium with Russell and Kimi Antonelli, the technology caused unusual behavior on the track. Russell commented that the stability of his car was affected by the moving elements of the wings, complicating the exit from the slipstream.
Russell explained that the car becomes unpredictable when the front and rear wing flaps are deployed: "After this race, my only request to the FIA is that, when activating ‘straight’ mode, the front wing does not drop so abruptly and does so more progressively. When the wings are deployed, we suffer from significant understeer, and when I came out of Charles' slipstream, I felt as if my front wing had stopped working," said the winner after his clashes with Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc.
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Russell's criticism adds to concerns previously expressed by other drivers. Lando Norris did not hold back after the weekend at Albert Park and even warned of “terrible accidents.” The McLaren driver, who finished fifth, argues that the large speed differences generated by energy management can be deadly.
When one car enters attack mode and the other has to recover energy, the difference can be as much as sixty kilometers per hour. If both activate “straight” mode at the same time and unpredictable behavior occurs on the track, the drivers' ability to react is seriously compromised.
If the FIA ends up changing the regulations and takes away the advantage of Mercedes engines, Franco could see his car's performance affected.
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