The double world champion slams erratic hybrid systems and unpredictable handling, joining Max Verstappen in a growing revolt against a technical era they find fundamentally unpleasant to drive.
Formula 1 has been engulfed in a wave of criticism since the introduction of the 2026 technical regulations, with drivers and teams alike voicing frustration over the way the new ruleset has changed the nature of racing. From the altered aerodynamic philosophy to the updated power unit framework, the sport's new chapter has not been universally welcomed.
Fernando Alonso became the latest — and one of the most vocal — figures to express dissatisfaction during the Monaco Grand Prix weekend. The two-time world champion has consistently been among the most outspoken critics of the current regulations, and his comments in the principality underlined just how strongly he feels about the direction the sport has taken.
Speaking to the assembled press in Monaco, Alonso delivered a blunt verdict on the current generation of machinery. He described the 2026 cars as probably the worst he has driven around the Monaco circuit throughout his career. His core complaint centred on the hybrid energy management systems and the inconsistency they introduce into braking behaviour.
He explained that the way the battery is charged — through braking and lifting off the throttle — creates erratic engine braking characteristics. Sometimes there is less than expected, sometimes a push, and sometimes nothing at all.
When the battery is completely full, it no longer accepts charge, which means engine braking disappears entirely. His conclusion was unambiguous: hybrid cars, in his view, simply should not be competing in Formula 1.
What have other F1 drivers said about the new regulations?
Alonso is far from alone in his frustration. During an appearance on a BBC programme, Max Verstappen was equally candid about his relationship with the sport in its current form.
The reigning world champion acknowledged that finishing seventh or eighth is something he can accept rationally — he knows not every race can be a victory — but insisted that when you combine a poor result with a driving experience you genuinely do not enjoy, it stops feeling natural.
Verstappen reflected that the current regulations demand a style of racing that he finds fundamentally unpleasant — something he described as deeply anti-driving in nature. He was honest about the fact that at some point, if the formula continues in this direction, it may simply not be what he wants to do anymore.
He was careful to push back against any suggestion that his comments were financially motivated, stressing that money had never been his driving force. Motorsport has always been his passion, and the idea that he might eventually walk away from it is something he described as genuinely sad.
He made clear he would not struggle to find fulfilment elsewhere in his life, but acknowledged with evident sincerity that the sport finding itself in this conversation at all was a cause for regret — not pity, just honest reflection on where Formula 1 currently stands.
