F1: Drivers lament speed reduction at Suzuka due to new rules

F1 Drivers Criticize Impact of New Regulations at Suzuka

Several Formula 1 drivers expressed their discontent after the qualifying session of the Japanese Grand Prix, lamenting the impact that the new power unit regulations have had on the Suzuka circuit. The increase in the deployment of electrical energy under the 2026 regulations has led to situations on the track where cars run out of energy or are forced to collect energy on straights and corners. In qualifying, some of Suzuka’s most iconic high-speed corners lost their essence, as drivers were forced to recharge the car’s battery instead of squeezing the grip to the maximum. The two main straights also showed a decrease in speed before the braking point, as engine power was transferred to the hybrid system’s battery load, known as “super clipping”, or the drivers lifted their foot off the accelerator and coasted before braking.

Lando Norris was one of the drivers disappointed by Saturday’s qualifying session in Japan.Photo by Ahmad AlShehab/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesLow speeds in the corners and strange speed profiles on the straights have been two of the biggest criticisms of the impact of the new rules in qualifying sessions, and Suzuka was no exception.

Does your soul still hurt when you see your speed decrease so much, 56 km/h less on the straight

Lando Norris

Fernando Alonso, who stated that during pre-season testing he was driving so far below the limit in high-speed corners that the Aston Martin chef could have been at the wheel, said that the Suzuka qualifying challenge had been missed.

He is gone

Fernando Alonso

Williams driver Carlos Sainz commented that the limitations of the regulations were particularly evident in qualifying compared to practice sessions, as drivers begin to push harder and spend more time at full throttle.

A little disappointed in the classification, as the more you pushed, the slower you went. That’s what happened to me in Q2.

Carlos Sainz

Carlos Sainz felt that he was going slower the harder he pushed in Saturday’s qualifying.

Photo by Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images

Despite the FIA’s attempts to mitigate the problem by limiting the amount of electrical energy that the drivers could collect in qualifying at Suzuka, Sainz said he was forced to employ different techniques to keep the battery charged. Sainz also commented that the drivers hope the situation improves and that the FIA listens to their concerns.