Three world champions – Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen and Lando Norris – have delivered a damning verdict on Formula One’s regulations overhaul after qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix.
Norris, McLaren’s defending champion, was scathing of the changes, saying that driving the car “sucks” and they were probably the “worst” ever made, while Hamilton criticised the new engine and chassis rules as “completely against” F1’s principles.
Mercedes’s George Russell took pole position for the first race of the season with a dominant performance, more than eight-tenths of a second quicker than McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, who qualified fifth. But with the new regulations requiring complex energy management across a lap, many drivers were dismissive.
Norris, who won his first title last season but could manage only sixth on the grid in Melbourne on Saturday, was among those who doubled down on complaints that have been circulating throughout the pre-season and have reached a head at Albert Park.
“We’ve come from the best cars ever made in Formula One and the nicest to drive, to probably the worst. It sucks,” he said. “Everyone knows what the issues are. It’s just the fact it’s a 50-50 split [between power from the combustion engine and electrical energy].”
When asked if he thought this was where F1 should be, Norris was unequivocal. “Not really, no,” he said. “As drivers, we have the interest of the sport in our minds better than others. The rules have been changed because that’s what manufacturers want. But if you have 20 other drivers complaining, I don’t know what’s better for the sport or not.”
Norris was far from alone. Hamilton, seven-times a world champion, echoed his criticism, noting that the complex requirements to recharge energy across a lap were distracting from drivers demonstrating their racing skill.
“The power’s good when you’ve got it, it’s just it doesn’t last,” he said. “We start the lap, half throttle coming through the last corner, and a third, a quarter of a straight, and then you go to full throttle. It’s completely against what Formula One is about– flat-out, full attack – and you’re lifting and coasting and stuff. That element is not very good and I don’t think the drivers particularly like it.”
Verstappen spun into a barrier when the rear of his car locked up under braking into turn one in qualifying, locking the rear axle as part of the energy regeneration process to which drivers are having to adapt. Others have been similarly caught out and the Red Bull driver was left powerless as the car was spat out across the run-off and he finished in 20th place. Red Bull are investigating the cause.
The four-time world champion has been outspoken in his dislike of the new regulations, warning he would quit the sport if he ceases to enjoy it. He joined the broad chorus of disapproval in Australia.
“I’m definitely not having fun at all with these cars. You can make up your mind, but if you look at the onboard, you see enough, right?” he said, referring to the drivers having to lift off the throttle to allow energy recovery on long straights. “The formula is just not correct, and that is something that is a bit harder to change, but we need to. It’s going to be a long season, that’s all I’m telling you.”
Verstappen was later cleared by F1’s medical team after X-rays on his hands following his crash. The Red Bull driver told Sky Sports: “All good. I just had to get some X-rays done to see if my hands were OK, but nothing was broken.”
