NO FREEDOM: FERNANDO ALONSO CLAIMS 2026 OVER-REGULATION IS KILLING DRIVER IMPACT IN THE COCKPIT.
Fernando Alonso labels 2026 F1 energy management as "annoying" after a tough Barcelona shakedown. Is the AMR26 already in trouble?
Fernando Alonso has seen more rule changes than anyone else on the Formula 1 grid. He started in 2001—so long ago that out of this year’s eleven teams, only three even existed in their current form. Back then, Aston Martin was still called Jordan, and Alonso drove for Minardi, which is now Racing Bulls.
Now, with the 2026 regulations on the horizon, Alonso and his team boss, Adrian Newey,y face the biggest shake-up of their careers. Aston Martin has already tried some pretty wild ideas this season to get the best out of the car, but there’s already some worry about Honda’s power unit after the Barcelona shakedown.
These new rules are going to change how drivers race each other, no question. Alonso’s already said one part of the update is bugging him as he heads into pre-season testing.
He told MARCA that managing energy in 2026 is going to be “a bit annoying” this year. Alonso explained, “Every set of rules has its quirks, and you have to change how you drive with each car. But this one’s pretty drastic. You need to manage energy through the whole lap, even in qualifying, when you’re supposed to be pushing flat out. That’s going to be annoying from a driver’s point of view.”
He went on, “You really have to think more now. When I drove in IndyCar, most of the race was about saving fuel. In WEC, it was all about energy management along with hybrids and traffic. But in the end, it’s racing. You go when the lightturngo green and stop at the flag. You get used to it fast. At first, you wish you could just drive flat-out, but F1’s gone this way, and these hybrids need that kind of management. We’ll get the hang of it.”
Alonso also said F1 probably isn’t ever going back to the 1990s or 2000s, which he thinks was the sport’s golden era. He hasn’t quite decided if that’s good or bad yet.
He’s worried about over-regulation too, especially as the 2026 engines might force cars to stop accelerating halfway down the straight. Sure, overtake modes and boost buttons could make things more exciting, but Alonso thinks it’s gotten complicated. “You have to plan more before you get in the car or try to overtake, but honestly, the teams are prepared. They run all the simulations, so by Sunday, there aren’t many surprises or big mistakes left for drivers to make.”
He added, “There isn’t much freedom anymore for what you do in the cockpit or how much energy you can use. The FIA really restricts it. You have to reduce power in a certain way, and when you want to use extra energy, you don’t get more than the car in front. We all deploy max energy for a second out of the corner, so honestly, there’s not much you can do. It’s over-regulated, and the differences between drivers are going to be tiny.”
Aston Martin showed up late in Barcelona, but the word isthat thee second half of their season should look a lot better than the start.
As for how long Alonso will keep racing, that’s anyone’s guess. He says it depends on how competitive Aston Martin can be—and whether he actually enjoys racing under these new rules.
SERGIO PEREZ BREAKS SILENCE ON CADILLAC’S FIRST FOUR RACES OF 2026 F1 SEASON
Discover why Sergio Perez is confident in Cadillac’s 2026 path despite urgent needs for better pace and reliability fixes.
Sergio Perez didn’t waste time sharing his thoughts on Cadillac after the first four races of the 2026 Formula 1 season.
Cadillac shows up in 2026 as F1’s newest team, but honestly, not a lot of people expected fireworks right away. With veterans like Valtteri Bottas and Perez behind the wheel, the team’s start has been a mix, some moments full of promise, others derailed by reliability issues.
Still, Cadillac isn’t just stuck at the back. Lately, they’ve been right there fighting with Aston Martin and even managed to split them in Miami, which turned a few heads.
Perez knows the team is at risk of falling behind in this crazy-fast development race, though. “We still have work to do, but I’m confident we’re on the right path,” he told reporters, including Motorsport Week.
He added, “Sometimes, once tyre degradation sets in, we can hang with the midfield, but they always seem to find another gear. There’s a long way to go this season, but we’re in a rush to find more pace. We know Aston will get stronger, and we don’t want to be left behind.”
Racing Aston Martin has actually brought Perez some enjoyment. He especially likes battling Fernando Alonso, calling those fights fair and satisfying. Still, he pointed out a weak spot: “We’re having fun with them. Racing Fernando is always great because he’s so fair. But we struggled with tyre degradation; we burnt through them too quickly. We picked the hard compound, but honestly, looking back, I should’ve gone with the soft.”
He said there’s plenty to analyse, and really, the key is getting a better grip on their car as they look ahead to Canada. “We don’t have much time, but in the short term, we need to fix the degradation. We have some ideas, but putting them together is our biggest challenge in the next few weeks.”
Cadillac may be the new kid on the block and still finding its feet, but it’s already starting to make an impact. The road out of the lower ranks won’t be easy, but they’re moving in the right direction.
HOW KIMI ANTONELLI’S THREE-RACE WIN STREAK IS REDEFINING THE MERCEDES TEAM HIERARCHY
With a 43-second gap in Miami, Antonelli proves he’s ready to lead the World Championship. Can Russell bounce back in Canada?
David Coulthard, the former Formula 1 driver, recently pointed out that Kimi Antonelli might be on track to overtake George Russell as Mercedes’ team leader.
Antonelli has been on an impressive run, clinching victories in the last three races and pulling ahead by 20 points over his main competitor and teammate, Russell.
At the Miami race, the young Italian once again outperformed his more seasoned teammate, with Russell managing only fourth place, trailing by 43 seconds.
Coulthard acknowledged Antonelli’s rapid rise in 2026, which is just his second season in F1. He highlighted Antonelli’s strengths and suggested that the Italian is, in many ways, now leading the Mercedes team.
“He’s come of age,” Coulthard said during the Up To Speed podcast.
Despite being relatively new, Antonelli has shown resilience, dealing not only with the pressure from a driver like Lando ready to strike but also with technical glitches like inconsistent paddle shifts. Coulthard mentioned how Antonelli kept his cool even when his engineer, Bono, was trying to help troubleshoot the issue in a tense moment.
“I think he’s earned the right to lead the World Championship,” Coulthard added, noting that this situation probably feels uncomfortable for George. Still, the expectations now lean heavily toward Antonelli leading the team, especially based on recent results.
Coulthard also pointed out that Russell has the experience and skill to reclaim his position as the team’s lead driver, but emphasised that only one can come out on top; someone must finish first and the other second.
The rivalry between them might start opening doors for other teams. Coulthard noted that improvements from McLaren, Ferrari, and Red Bull were already noticeable, especially in Miami.
“Winning in the best car isn’t always straightforward. Many have tried and struggled,” he said.
For Russell, who is feeling the weight of this momentum shift, the upcoming race in Canada will be crucial if he wants to close the gap and halt Antonelli’s winning streak.
