– Opinions on the 2026 regulations in Formula 1 vary widely. While Max Verstappen, for example, has already strongly criticized the new rules publicly, Formula 1 boss Stefano Domenicali emphasizes that there is no need to worry about the state of the premier class.
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Bernie Ecclestone, who led Formula 1 himself for many years, does not see it quite as relaxed as his successor. “Formula 1 is now competing more with Formula E. Maybe the fans like that, but I don’t believe so,” said the now 95-year-old to sport.de.
“The danger is that we lose the fans,” he warns, emphasizing that Formula 1 must be a drivers’ world championship, “and not one of engineers.” But that is exactly where the premier class could be heading under the new regulations in his opinion.
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“It’s less about racing. But that’s the development: even more regulations, even more rules for the drivers, don’t do this, don’t do that.” Therefore, there will be “confusion among the fans at the start of the season because everyone has to relearn Formula 1,” he warns.
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“I really hope I’m wrong,” said Ecclestone about his suspicion that the premier class could lose fans due to the new complexity. Previously, four-time world champion Verstappen had already explained that energy management had become far too important under the new regulations.
“For me, that’s just not Formula 1,” said the Dutchman during the winter testing in Bahrain. And Ecclestone also explained with regard to Verstappen that the new regulations were certainly not “his way of racing Formula 1”.
Formula 1 boss Domenicali, on the other hand, recently said regarding the criticism of the new rules that he was “pretty sure that all these things […] will disappear and be forgotten” as soon as the new season begins in Melbourne in March.
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