Lewis Hamilton says F1’s new era is delivering better racing, while Max Verstappen remains unconvinced

According to ESPN reporter Nate Saunders, Lewis Hamilton has strongly backed Formula 1’s new generation of cars, arguing that the 2026 regulations have made wheel to wheel racing more realistic and more entertaining.

Speaking after his podium finish for Ferrari in China and ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix, Hamilton said the new cars allow drivers to follow each other through high speed sections in a way that had been missing from Formula 1 for a long time.

He also suggested that some of the criticism from rivals may be influenced by the fact that the competitive order has changed, with Red Bull no longer enjoying the same advantage it had in recent seasons.

The new rules have placed much more emphasis on battery deployment and energy management, with power now split more evenly between combustion and electrical systems.

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That has created a style of racing in which drivers can attack, defend, and then counterattack again within the same contest, rather than relying on a single move or waiting for a rival’s tire drop off. For Hamilton, that has made the action feel more dynamic. For Verstappen, it has had the opposite effect.

Hamilton embraces the new racing style

Hamilton said the new on track battles remind him of karting, where positions can change repeatedly during the same fight and drivers are forced to think constantly about timing, momentum, and racecraft.

He pushed back on the idea that this makes Formula 1 less authentic, saying, “It’s the best form of racing, and Formula 1 has not been the best form of racing in a long, long time.” He also argued that the biggest breakthrough is not just the overtaking itself, but the fact that drivers can now stay close through faster corners without instantly losing performance, something that had long undermined direct fights in previous generations of cars.

Hamilton also made clear that he does not love every detail of the new package. He said he is not especially enthusiastic about the power deployment element or the active aerodynamics, but still sees the overall product as a major step forward.

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In his view, the current cars are lighter, more nimble, and more enjoyable to race, even if they are not perfect. He described his recent battle with Charles Leclerc in China as the most enjoyable fight he has had in years, and said the repeated exchanges felt closer to what top level racing should look like.

Verstappen sees a very different picture

Verstappen has been one of the most outspoken critics of the new rules, and his comments after the Chinese Grand Prix left little room for ambiguity. Referring to the repeated overtaking patterns created by battery usage and energy recovery, he said, “It’s terrible, if someone likes this, then you really don’t know what racing is about. It’s not fun at all. It’s playing Mario Kart. This is not racing.” His frustration reflects a broader concern among some drivers that the new format can make battles feel too programmed by power deployment rather than driven purely by instinct, braking skill, and corner entry.

According to Saunders’ report for ESPN, Verstappen is not the only driver to express doubts. Lando Norris and Fernando Alonso have also been critical of the new generation of cars, even if their objections have not always been framed in exactly the same way.

For those drivers, the concern is that the racing can become too dependent on energy timing rather than allowing a more natural flow to develop over a stint. That split in opinion has become one of the defining talking points of the early 2026 season.

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Red Bull’s changing position adds another layer to the debate

Hamilton did not directly dismiss Verstappen’s opinion, but he did suggest that a driver’s competitive situation naturally shapes how the new rules feel from the cockpit. Red Bull dominated much of the period from 2021 through 2024, with Verstappen winning four straight drivers’ titles and the team claiming three constructors’ championships.

In 2026, however, the team has begun the new regulation cycle without the same clear edge, while Mercedes and Ferrari have emerged as stronger reference points. That shift has made Hamilton’s response especially pointed, because he implied that enjoying the racing is easier when a driver is no longer simply disappearing at the front.

Asked why he and Verstappen could view the same cars so differently, Hamilton said, “[Max] has had that for the last four or five years. It’s been pretty smooth sailing for him.” He stopped short of turning the disagreement into a personal attack, but the message was clear enough.

From Hamilton’s perspective, the current rules are creating more genuine contests, and that is good for both the drivers and the audience. He added that Formula 1 is in a strong commercial and cultural moment, with fan interest high and the sport receiving more mainstream attention, and argued that better racing only strengthens that momentum.

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In his view, the next step is not to abandon the concept, but to bring the field closer together so more teams can take part in the same kind of battles.

Source: ESPN

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