Lewis Hamilton has voiced concerns that Formula 1’s new regulations are overly complicated, a sentiment shared by Piero Ferrari, the son of team founder Enzo Ferrari.
The 2026 season will see F1 cars powered by nearly 50% electric energy. With batteries now three times more powerful, teams and drivers will need to prioritise how they manage energy use during races.
Max Verstappen has also experimented with unconventional battery charging techniques mid-lap. He’s been outspoken against the rule changes, famously calling the new format “Formula E on steroids.”
Hamilton and Verstappen have both questioned whether the changes are moving F1 too far from its roots.
“None of the fans are going to understand it,” Hamilton told ESPN during testing last week. “It’s ridiculously complex. I sat in a meeting the other day and they’re taking us through it. It’s like you need a degree to fully understand it all.”
Piero Ferrari thinks F1’s new rulebook is too complicated
Piero Ferrari told journalist Leo Turrini that the 2026 regulations might be too complex for the average fan to follow, saying they need to be more straightforward so that people watching from home can actually understand what’s happening.
Ferrari are currently caught up in two early disputes over the new regulations. One involves Mercedes and their fuel compression ratio, which other teams claim goes beyond the allowed 16:1 when the engine heats up.
The remaining four engine suppliers are pushing the FIA to close a loophole that Mercedes are believed to be using to their advantage.
There have also been concerns raised about race starts under the new system. Ferrari, who already have a workaround in place, aren’t eager for any adjustments that could impact their current setup.
“I would like simpler technical regulations,” said Ferrari. “Less complex, less complicated. You have to be a true scientist to understand things.”
“Instead, it would be nice if ordinary people were able to understand why a single-seater is faster or slower than the competition.”
F1 bosses warned they won’t save the planet with sustainable fuels
Beyond the technical changes, Formula 1’s shift to sustainable fuels in 2026 is part of a broader plan to hit net-zero emissions by 2030.
But Ferrari has raised doubts about whether this move will actually deliver the intended results and has also voiced concerns over the high costs involved.
“Furthermore, there are exaggerations that leave me perplexed,” he said. “For example, I doubt we’ll improve the planet’s environmental health by running F1 on highly sophisticated and expensive special fuels!”
The teams aren’t all using the same supplier either, which could affect performance. Ferrari have stuck with Shell, Mercedes remain aligned with Petronas and Red Bull are still using ExxonMobil.
Read more: