Hamilton, Verstappen and Checo slam F1’s complex 2026 power rules.
Sergio Pérez, Lewis Hamilton, and Max Verstappen have joined forces against a common enemy for F1 2026.
Hamilton told the press that the new regulations make F1 an “excessively complex” competition and stated: "No fan will understand it. The other day I attended a meeting where they explained every detail to us. Honestly, it seems like you need a college degree to fully understand it."
For his part, Max Verstappen said: “It doesn't feel like F1, it's more like Formula E on steroids. As a pure driver, I enjoy driving flat out, and at the moment, you can't do that. What you do as a driver has a big effect on the energy, and for me, this is not F1.”
Finally, Checo mentioned the following in Motorsport: “It's very difficult to figure out what's going on with the energy, with the deployments... all of that is tremendously difficult. So yes, a large part of this power unit comes into play, much more than in the past, which is not ideal,” said the Jalisco native.
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How many years does Checo Pérez have left on his contract with Cadillac?
Sergio Pérez returned to Formula 1 with Cadillac, and one of the biggest questions on fans' minds is the length of his contract, as this could be his last team before retirement.
According to information from Diego Mejía, a renowned motorsports journalist, the Jalisco-born driver will be on the track for quite some time: "Checo has said that he has two years with Cadillac. His contract, as far as I know, is a 2+1, two with conditions for a third.
He has also said that he plans to stay as long as necessary to reap the rewards and that he is not setting a deadline for his last big project," they reported.
While the synchronized criticism from three of Formula 1’s most influential drivers may appear alarming, it ultimately reflects a broader transitional challenge facing the sport. The 2026 regulations were designed to emphasize sustainability, electrical deployment, and manufacturer relevance in a rapidly evolving automotive industry. Inevitably, such sweeping changes alter not only car performance characteristics but also the driving experience itself. Drivers who built their reputations in eras defined by raw combustion power and mechanical grip may find the increasing emphasis on hybrid energy management less intuitive or emotionally engaging.
However, regulatory revolutions have historically defined Formula 1’s competitive cycles. From turbocharged dominance in the 1980s to hybrid innovation in the 2010s, the sport has repeatedly reinvented itself while preserving its elite status. Initial resistance often gives way to adaptation as teams refine performance windows and drivers recalibrate their techniques. The concerns voiced by Hamilton, Verstappen and Pérez highlight legitimate questions about complexity and fan accessibility, yet they also underline the passion competitors hold for maintaining F1’s identity. Whether the 2026 era ultimately strengthens or reshapes that identity will depend not only on engineering outcomes, but on how effectively the sport balances technological ambition with the visceral spectacle that defines Grand Prix racing.
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