CARLOS SAINZ DEMANDS "OPEN-MINDED" FIA APPROACH TO 2026 ENGINE CRISIS
F1 faces a 2026 crisis! Discover why Sainz and Verstappen are slamming the new "anti-racing" rules and what the FIA's Plan B entails.
Drivers keep saying the new power unit rules force them into this super aggressive energy management, and honestly, even fans and commentators are having a hard time figuring out what’s actually happening on track.
Ivan Capelli, who used to drive for Ferrari, basically admitted on Sky Italia, “Yeah, even for us, it’s tough to see what drivers are doing with these cars right now.” Still, he trusts Liberty Media to break things down for everyone with better graphics and explanations.
Meanwhile, the FIA isn’t just sitting around. Behind the scenes, they’ve already started looking at backup plans. During the Bahrain test, they asked teams to try running with less peak electric motor power, just to see if it could work as a fallback.
Carlos Sainz, talking to DAZN, didn’t mince words. He said the sport needs to stay flexible.
“My message to FOM and the FIA is that we should keep an open mind at the start of the year, in case the rules around how much energy we have to recover per lap are just too much,” he said.
He didn’t sugarcoat it. “Everything I’ve tried feels totally different and slower than last season. Overall, it’s just worse. We get a bit more power for two or three seconds on the straight compared to last year, but then it drops off fast, and we have to claw that energy back.”
All Sainz really wants is some flexibility. If the power-to-energy ratio isn’t right for certain tracks, he says they need to adjust so drivers aren’t forced into weird strategies on the straights.
But not everyone thinks it’s a big deal. Ralf Schumacher, another ex-driver, thinks people are overreacting.
“Let’s not panic,” he said. “Every time new rules come in, there’s a rush to judge. People just need to take a breath.”
Schumacher also warned that top drivers trashing the new rules could actually hurt the sport. He reminded everyone that these changes are meant to bring in big names like Audi, Honda, and GM.
“Let’s not forget why these rules exist in the first place,” he said. “This was absolutely the right call.”
Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali isn’t worried, either. He brushed off any talk of emergency changes.
“I’m sure we’ll get another amazing show this year,” he said. “From a fan’s view, nothing has changed. The fastest driver will still win.”
Domenicali even talked directly with Max Verstappen after Max called the new rules “Formula E on steroids".
“We had a good conversation. Max is the future of Formula 1, so it’s important to hear him out,” Domenicali said.
But he’s not rushing into anything drastic.
“Let’s actually start the season before talking about Plan B. Big rule changes always bring doubts. In the end, there’s a technical solution for everything.”
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.
