Charles Leclerc isn’t too happy about how the new Formula 1 rules have changed the excitement in qualifying for 2026.

He and Ferrari are off to a strong start this season, sitting comfortably behind Mercedes as the second-quickest car. Ferrari has figured out the new technical regulations pretty well; their smaller turbo and powerful battery are keeping them right up at the front.

But people in and out of the paddock are still worried about what these new rules are doing to the racing. Some feel the action on track is starting to look a bit fake.

Leclerc doesn’t totally agree with that. He thinks teams are just learning to use their batteries better, and knowledge is driving that change.

“I actually enjoy it,” Leclerc told reporters. “From inside the car, it doesn’t feel artificial. Sure, sometimes overtakes look a bit forced, like when someone screws up with battery management and suddenly loses a ton of speed, but honestly, we’re all figuring out when to push and when to play it safe. That’s making for some pretty fun overtaking spots.”

Now, as for the qualifying session? Leclerc admits that’s where he has bigger concerns. Take the Chinese Grand Prix, for example: there were overtakes everywhere, and drivers, Leclerc included, felt more confident handling the car. Still, he says the racing style isn’t quite what Formula 1 should be.

“The smaller, lighter cars are more agile, and it’s easier to go around the outside,” he said. “They’re not the super high-downforce machines we used to have. But we need to make qualifying feel more like Formula 1 again. Something is missing. If we work on it, we’ll figure it out.”

Leclerc’s worried that the new rules, especially the way battery deployment works, are messing up the thrill of push laps in qualifying. With Suzuka’s technical corners coming up, those battery issues could make the qualifying spectacle feel even less special.

What initially seemed like another highlight in Max Verstappen’s expanding endurance racing journey ended harshly and unexpectedly. Hours after crossing the finish line at the Nurburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS) race, the four-time Formula 1 world champion was disqualified.

Verstappen, driving alongside Daniel Juncadella and Jules Gounon for Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing, had taken the chequered flag first in the Mercedes-AMG GT3 at the 58th ADAC Barbarossapreis, the second round of the 2026 NLS season. However, their celebration was short-lived. About two hours later, race officials announced the car’s disqualification due to a violation of tyre rules. This handed the victory to Dan Harper and Jordan Pepper in the BMW M4 GT3 for ROWE Racing instead.

The decision came after the usual post-race inspection, where data from the series’ tyre monitoring system revealed that the team had used seven sets of tyres, surpassing the six-set limit imposed by NLS regulations. Faced with these facts, race stewards had little choice but to exclude the team from the final standings.

Christian Hohenadel, team principal of Winward Racing, expressed the sting of the disqualification. He acknowledged a team error behind the incident and apologised to supporters, emphasising their intent to analyse what happened and prepare more carefully for future races. “This was our debut as a Mercedes-AMG Performance team on the Nordschleife,” he noted.

Despite the disappointing outcome, Verstappen’s performance on track was hard to ignore. With over 130 cars competing and around 25,000 fans in attendance, the Dutch driver stood out during qualifying, securing pole with a lap time of 7:51.751. Verstappen himself described pole position as a pleasant surprise, especially since he finally managed a clean lap free of traffic.

The race featured intense battling at the front. Christopher Haase pushed early and briefly took the lead, but the Mercedes eventually re-established control. Further behind, ROWE Racing capitalised on a strong strategy, moving up from seventh to claim the win once the disqualification was enforced.

Jordan Pepper remarked on Verstappen’s presence, calling it great for the sport and recognising him as a consummate professional who challenges competitors.

The NLS2 event delivered excitement beyond the lead. Falken Motorsports climbed from tenth to a podium spot, while 48 LOSCH Motorsport by BLACK FALCON enjoyed a revised classification that gave them a top-three finish and victory in the PRO-AM class. Smyrlis Racing took charge of the CUP3 category, and PROsport Racing secured the win in SP10 with its Mercedes-AMG GT4. In the VT2-RWD class, SRS Team Sorg Rennsport earned victory with their Toyota Supra after a tight contest.

Although the final result worked against him, Verstappen’s display reaffirmed his adaptability beyond the confines of Formula 1 machines. Reflecting on the challenge of the Nordschleife, he called it one of the wildest circuits out there and expressed a clear desire to race there as often as possible.

Looking ahead, the next NLS round is scheduled for April 11, as Verstappen continues preparations for the renowned 24 Hours of Nürburgring, where he is expected to compete again. For now, what might have been another celebration at the Nordschleife serves as a reminder of how unforgiving endurance racing’s regulations can be.