Former four-time Formulation 1 World Champion Sebastian Vettel has addressed considerations raised by Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton relating to the complexity of the 2026 rules, suggesting that followers and drivers alike needn’t be overly anxious in regards to the new guidelines.
Throughout the first week of pre-season testing in Bahrain, Lewis Hamilton had remarked that the newest era of F1 vehicles may require followers to have a “college diploma” simply to grasp what is going on on observe. His remark referred to the sweeping regulatory modifications launched for 2026, which embody redesigned energy models and superior lively aerodynamics. Below these guidelines, each the entrance and rear wings on the vehicles can now open and shut at particular factors across the lap, considerably altering automotive habits.
Ferrari, in preparation for the brand new season, has developed an influence unit that includes a smaller turbo to enhance race-start efficiency, whereas Mercedes has reportedly exploited a loophole within the rules regarding the compression ratio of their engine. These variations have sparked intense debate amongst groups, pundits, and followers alike.
Vettel compares 2026 rules to the 2014 overhaul
Talking to ServusTV, Sebastian Vettel mirrored on Lewis Hamilton’s remark and drew parallels between the present regulatory upheaval and the 2014 modifications, which launched turbo-hybrid energy models. The previous Ferrari man famous that whereas the brand new guidelines could appear difficult now, historical past has proven that drivers, groups, and followers usually adapt shortly as soon as the season progresses.
Sebastian Vettel defined that the Briton’s considerations are comprehensible given his expertise and skill to evaluate technical rules, however he emphasised that Formulation 1 has overcome related challenges earlier than. He added that after the game and the media correctly clarify the technical elements, followers will shortly come to grasp the modifications, simply as they did throughout earlier main regulation shifts.
He additionally acknowledged that from a driver’s perspective, the brand new vehicles should nonetheless ship pleasure. Drivers need autos which are quick, aggressive, and responsive, with out feeling like they’re spending your entire race navigating complicated techniques or always adjusting controls. Sebastian Vettel admitted that trendy Formulation 1 has inevitably change into extra technical, with longer conferences and extra strategic issues affecting how drivers can affect efficiency on observe. However, he pressured the significance of clear communication and endurance as groups and followers acclimate to the brand new guidelines.
Mercedes and the FIA: compression ratio below scrutiny
Heading into the 2026 Australian Grand Prix, some of the talked-about subjects is Mercedes’ potential benefit on account of their modern method to engine compression ratios. Rival groups have expressed considerations that the FIA’s present testing strategies might not adequately seize the efficiency implications of Mercedes’ design. Though Mercedes reportedly handed official compression ratio assessments below elevated temperatures, different groups are pushing for revised procedures.
The FIA is now reportedly contemplating changes to how compression ratios are verified, which may reshape the aggressive order on the grid partway by means of the season. In the meantime, Ferrari’s potential profit from improved race-start efficiency with their smaller turbo energy unit has but to be totally quantified. As Sebastian Vettel defined, within the early levels of any main regulation change, the aggressive panorama is consistently evolving, with benefits and drawbacks rising on a race-by-race foundation.
Leclerc and Hamilton deal with efficiency amid complexity
For Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, the principle precedence is the efficiency of the SF-26. Regardless of the complexity launched by the 2026 guidelines, their focus stays on maximizing the automotive’s competitiveness. The German reassured that whereas followers and groups might initially wrestle to understand each element of the technical rules, the true measure of success would be the on-track battles and the power of driver to extract essentially the most from the Ferrari SF-26 in race circumstances.
Whereas the 2026 Formulation 1 rules have launched a number of technical and strategic challenges, Sebastian Vettel believes that with time, rationalization, and adaptation, each followers and drivers will come to grasp the modifications. For Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, the evolving rules are secondary to making sure Ferrari stays aggressive on the entrance of the grid.
Feb 18, 2026
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