– The new technical regulations have changed Formula 1: algorithms decide on energy output, battery charge determines the outcome of a duel, and even the drivers sometimes cannot explain exactly what their cars are doing – and why. Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu therefore speaks out what many think: “At the moment, many things are simply too complicated.”
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“Formula 1 should become simpler again, also for the spectators. It is important that everyone understands the sport, regardless of how deeply someone gets into the technical details. For that, Formula 1 must become more understandable in some areas,” Komatsu explained.
The core point of criticism is the current powertrain regulations, which led to bizarre scenes especially on fast tracks like Silverstone and Spa-Francorchamps: the cars ran out of “juice” on the long straights because at times no additional electric power was available and only the combustion engine was driving. This left only about half of the maximum system power.
“On some tracks this weighs more heavily than on others, and Spa definitely belongs to the most difficult,” said Komatsu. “We have already made improvements, but continuous development is needed.”
Komatsu calls for more control for the drivers again
According to Komatsu, this also includes curbing “unintended or secondary effects” of the new powertrain rules. “Currently, the system depends on the drivers doing certain things exactly right. But control must lie more with the driver again,” Komatsu said. Only then can a driver’s performance be properly assessed.
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Because currently an outsider does not know whether a “classic driving error” is present or whether the software was responsible. Too much remains unclear in Formula 1 2026 because the drivers cannot drive independently or “intuitively”.
“A driver should go to the grip limit and, for example, open the throttle exactly when he feels that the rear wheels are not yet spinning in qualifying. That is exactly the core of our sport,” Komatsu explained.
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The Formula 1 rules 2026 overlay this aspect and obscure how much of a lap is actually due to the driver. “That is exactly the problem,” Komatsu said. “From the outside, no one can tell whether the driver actually drove a bad lap or whether he only lost two or three tenths of a second due to the energy deployment.”
“To actually be able to speak of a driving error, one would have to assume that a driver fully understands and always takes into account every single detail of the software or strategy. You cannot expect that from a driver. Because at the moment the system is simply still too complicated.”
Can Formula 1 still achieve a turnaround?
However, this last sentence at least suggests that Komatsu believes in an improvement. He explicitly confirms this: “We will solve this. I am convinced of that.”
The first adjustments have already been “definitely a step forward.” “At the same time, we all knew that this would not be a final solution because we did not want to completely overhaul the system overnight. That is why we proceed step by step.”
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Komatsu expects an improvement for 2027. But he does not know exactly when a good balance will be achieved. “But I believe we will get the problem fully under control at some point.”
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