Helmut Marko escalated a public row over Formula 1’s 2026 regulations, demanding immediate changes and telling Kleine Zeitung the rules were too complicated and that software and battery systems have an outsized influence on race outcomes. He warned drivers were increasingly at the mercy of batteries and software, described instances where cars overrode driver commands and triggered accidental overtakes, said qualifying had been diluted because cars slowed on straights to harvest energy, described a negative mood among drivers and urged the FIA to reduce the battery’s share of performance and refocus the sport on combustion-engine driving skill.

At Silverstone Nigel Mansell said he “echoes and supports the drivers 100%” and argued the new power unit split and related energy-management rules forced drivers to coast into corners and ease off the throttle to preserve battery life, so the cars were “not actually racing at times.” Mansell called sprint-style competition a “data-entry” exercise, warned the situation risked alienating fans and placed the FIA under “immense pressure” to amend the underlying math, and he urged emergency technical meetings and “more than half-measures” to restore proper on-track racing.

Supporters defended the overhaul’s aims and said execution problems could be fixed. Nico Rosberg told Bloomberg the sport should prioritize racing and technology that matter to society and described the 2026 power unit, roughly a 50:50 split between internal-combustion and electric power with lighter cars, active aerodynamics, new deployment tools and CO2-neutral fuels, as “probably one of the most efficient.” He acknowledged practical execution problems, including battery cutoffs that forced downshifts on straights and produced awkward on-track visuals, but said those issues were secondary if the season produced close intra-team and inter-team battles and singled out Ferrari, Mercedes and McLaren as teams that could deliver competitive racing.

Driver reactions were mixed. Max Verstappen called the rules “anti-racing” and warned they could push him to quit. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton said they were positively surprised and that the new cars were easier to follow, and George Russell described the on-track feel as “more like go-kart racing.” Carlos Sainz warned the rules reduced driver control and Pierre Gasly cautioned they harmed qualifying performance. At Suzuka Lando Norris said an unwanted battery deployment through 130R forced him to lift and cost him an overtake on Lewis Hamilton. Nico Hülkenberg and Franco Colapinto said the racing looked entertaining on television but still needed technical and sporting improvements. Rosberg pointed to 19-year-old Kimi Antonelli leading the championship after three races and to strong fan enthusiasm he observed as signs the new era could produce a compelling sporting narrative.

Sources