Lando Norris is backed by Fernando Alonso as he insists that the new Formula One is entirely different to what preceded it.

With the FIA already having imposed fines for swearing during press conferences, one wonders, given recent events on social media, how long before the sport's governing body and indeed the rights holder starts acting against those openly critical of the rules overhaul.

No such problems for Goody Two Shoes, and championship leader, George Russell, who absolutely loves the overhaul, but not so Norris.

"You're driving the power unit, you're not driving the car to the same limit," said the 2025 world champion. "It's not like, 'go and drive the car the quickest way possible'. That's not how it works.

"It's a very different style of driving that's needed," he continued. "It's basically forget everything you've ever done and reset.

"I think you can still make a difference as a driver by driving the power unit in the correct way, but not by necessarily driving the car in a much better way," he added. "You're not going to go into Pouhon now and see who has the biggest balls. You're just going to see who can lift at the correct point and use the amount of throttle that you have to use, that doesn't use the power, that doesn't use the battery and those kind of things.

"It's gone from just seeing how you can optimise every single millisecond out of the car itself and purely from a driver, car, forget about the engine because that was always pretty good for everyone, let's say. It was just who can get the most out of the car on that given day. That was it.

"You're driving how you've always driven your whole life, which is throttle, brake, and generally more throttle and less brake. I think for the first time in our lives basically it's forget everything you've learned in F4, F3, F2 and drive it in a completely different way. The thing is the driver can still make a big impact and can certainly have a big impact on driving the power unit in the correct way. It's just that's not what any of us have ever grown up doing. Probably not something any of us grew up wanting to do either but that's the way it is now.

"George has done a very good job at understanding all of these things and he deserves credit for optimising the package that he has and understanding these things potentially better than others.

"So the driver can still make a big difference and I think that understanding how you can maximise the car itself and the power units together is in that next step but at the minute we just need to try and optimise one and then be able to shift our focus to the other."

"There were always curves where the driver had to be brave and push their limits," said Alonso, when asked about 130R at Suzuka. "That doesn't exist anymore, you use Suzuka's Esses to charge the battery.

"A different challenge, still fun," he added, "you love racing, but I grew up in the other one, the one about risking it in the curves, and I prefer that."

"It's quite an odd feeling to, in certain places, throttle the least amount possible when you just want to get on throttle, because that's what it should be more about," said Norris.

"And having to do such big lift-and-coasts into some corners again that's just not what we've grown up doing or wanted to ever do, but it's the situation we're in now because of the rules that we have.

"So as much as some drivers are maybe not happy with how you have to drive a Formula 1 car nowadays, it's still Formula 1 and you still have to do the best you can so it is what it is."

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by Stitch431, 3 hours ago

"If we take a look at the "racing": overtaking takes place either by pressing a button, or by a car suddenly slowing down due to a depleted battery. This is not really exciting, in my humble opinion.
If we then consider the sustainability of electric cars — the amount of rare earth minerals required, the circumstances under which these are excavated, and the conflicts that are being fought or threatened to be fought over them — I believe we can easily do without electricity and instead expand the use and development of sustainable, biodegradable fuels.
This would certainly put drivers back in a position where they are fighting for every corner, braking late, and engaging in epic wheel-to-wheel battles — all things we as fans are sorely missing this season."

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2. Posted by Superbird70, 4 hours ago

"This what the manufacturers wanted. A chance to showcase their technological brilliance. Road relevance at its finest.

Everyone will want a hybrid now."

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3. Posted by Chester, 5 hours ago

"Sad. Changing the essence of racing to something akin to a kid playing a video game. For shame. I am truly sickened. "

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4. Posted by Wokingchap, 5 hours ago

"Certainly is a crap way to have to drive, so hope there's great changes to come (or am i a delusional optimist?)"

Rating: Positive (5) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

Norris doubles down on F1 2026 criticism

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