first real footage, including the caddilac
first real footage, including the caddilac
2 Likes
A good start, let’s hope it continues.
Fantastic, smaller cars but overall quicker.
Looks like the 1st spanner in the works for Aston Martin, as they’ve found an anomaly in the power unit. So they’ve parked the car up to investigate the issue.
So Lance Stroll has lost nearly a whole days testing.
Highlights from day 1 in Bahrain.
Max Verstappen demolishes “anti-racing” and “not fun” 2026 F1 cars
Verstappen has taken a sledgehammer to Formula 1’s new regulations for 2026, with the four-time world champion saying the cars are not helping him stay in the series
Max Verstappen slammed Formula 1’s new generation of cars after sampling the 2026 Red Bull in Bahrain testing, saying they are “not fun to drive” and “FE on steroids”.
On day two of the first three-day Bahrain test, Verstappen hosted his first proper press conference of 2026, having completed 136 laps on Wednesday before handing over the car to team-mate Isack Hadjar today.
Verstappen and Red Bull impressed the rest of the paddock with their pace and energy deployment, but the Dutchman says he was more concerned with what the new generation of cars is like to drive, with an even bigger focus on energy management.
“To drive [they are] not a lot of fun, to be honest,” he said. "I would say the right word is management. It’s not very Formula 1-like. It feels a bit more like Formula E on steroids. But the rules are the same for everyone, so you have to deal with that.
"As a pure driver, I enjoy driving flat out and at the moment, you cannot drive like that. There’s a lot going on. A lot of what you do as a driver, in terms of inputs, has a massive effect on the energy side of things. For me, that’s just not Formula 1. Maybe it’s then better to drive Formula E, right? Because that’s all about energy, efficiency and management.
“We’re energy poor. I just want normal driving, just how it should be without having to [say]: ‘Oh, if I brake a bit longer or less or more, or one gear up or down.’ It so heavily impacts the performance on the straights. Plus, the grip at the moment is quite low with these tyres and the car configuration. It is a big step back to how it was.”
He added: "Honestly, the proportion of the car looks good, I think. That’s not the problem. It’s just everything else that is a bit, for me, anti-racing.
"Probably people will not be happy with me saying this right now. But I am outspoken and why am I not allowed to say what I think of my race car? I can’t help that.
“I mean, I didn’t write the regulation. If it was, I think, up to non-political aspects of making a regulation, I think, anyway, the car would have probably have looked very different.”
Verstappen did say it pained him to be so frank in his views out of respect for the work his team and the power unit division at Red Bull Powertrains had done, with both the car and engine appearing to be in good shape so far - the brand-new engine department even defying expectations.
“On the other hand, I also know how much work has been going on in the background,” he added. "Also from the engine side, for the guys. So, it’s not always the nicest thing to say. But I also want to be realistic as a driver, the feeling.
“I also know what is at stake with the team; our own engine and seeing the excitement of the people. Of course, when I sit in the car, I will always give it my very best. They know that. Excitement level is not so high to drive.”
2 Likes
New Season drive to survive on Netflix available from february 27
I had that same thought as Max, that slowly but surely F1 cars are being turned in a form of Formula ‘E’.
So it won’t be a pit stop for tyres, it’ll be a complete change of car.
Lando Norris teases Max Verstappen over F1 2026 complaints: “He can retire if he wants”
The McLaren driver doesn’t share Verstappen’s critical views over the 2026 Formula 1 cars
Reigning world champion Lando Norris feels Formula 1 drivers have little to complain about following Max Verstappen’s explosive criticism on the new generation of cars.
Speaking his mind on the new regulations, which feature a much bigger reliance on electric energy that forces drivers and teams to focus heavily on energy management, Verstappen said the new cars are “not a lot of fun” and feel “a bit more like Formula E on steroids”.
“The rules are the same for everyone, so you have to deal with that [but] as a pure driver, I enjoy driving flat out and, at the moment, you cannot drive like that,” the four-time world champion said, suggesting the new rules aren’t exactly helping him commit his long-term future to F1.
When Verstappen’s comments were put to him, Norris said he actually enjoys the new challenges the 2026 F1 cars have thrown up, and feels that handsomely remunerated F1 drivers have “nothing to complain” about.
“A lot of fun. I really enjoyed it,” Norris said. "So, yeah, if he wants to retire, he can retire. Formula 1 changes all the time. Sometimes it’s a bit better to drive, sometimes it’s not as good to drive.
"We get paid a stupid amount of money to drive, so you can’t really complain at the end of the day. Any driver can go and find something else to do. It’s not like he has to be here, or any driver has to be here.
“It’s a challenge, but it’s a good, fun challenge for the engineers, for the drivers. You have to drive it in a different way, understand and manage things differently, but I still get to drive cars and travel the world and have a lot of fun. So, nothing to complain about.”
Norris pointed out teams will improve their new machinery in leaps and bounds over the coming months, so he doesn’t think day two of the official pre-season test in Bahrain is a perfect indication of how this generation of cars will pan out on the long term.
“It certainly doesn’t feel as quick as the past few years, and it certainly doesn’t handle as perfectly and those things,” Norris added. "I’m sure if [Max] came in and this was the F1 car he started driving, then he probably would say it’s amazing. Comparing to the older cars, it doesn’t feel as pretty and beautiful to drive, but it’s still pretty good.
"It’s still early days of a regulation that’s meant to be a good amount slower, but if we fast forward to the end of this year and ahead to next year, we’re going to be going a lot quicker by then.
“Everyone can have their own opinions, and say and decide what they want to do. No one should complain about that or be upset about it. Every driver has their own opinions. He didn’t like it, and I like it.”
2 Likes
We shall see what happens, and who’s right come Australia in 3 weeks time, because what I’ve read so far this morning. Both Perez And Bottas have caused Red Flags with their cars failing for some reason.
The other thing between what Max said, and what Lando said, these cars are only V1 of the new regs. As the season progress, we might see improvements from all the teams, but as both have said, under full race conditions the cars will be slower to start with.
1 Like
the fastest lap yesterday from Charles Leclerc onboard
just watch and listen the straights.. you clearly can hear the power getting less at the end of the straight because the battery is empty
3 Likes
First time I see a full onboard lap. Wow that looks slow. The whole thing compared to the last years is visibly slower…
2 Likes
They also seemed a lot ‘QUIETER’ than last years V6 engines. They should’ve let the battery system alone, and let the batteries recharge via KERS as they brake for the corners.
1 Like
Well for sure it gets more quite when there is no more power at the end of the straight.
But the different sound could also be the audio of the recording. It is still a V6 Engine… Sound should not be so much different.
1 Like
yes, they are slower, but don’t forget that they are still testing and about 4 seconds of the fast times that they normally do there
final standings from today:
4 Likes
I am sure Ham wants some sort of redemption. Let us see if it can be done. 
2 Likes