F1, Sportrik Media - George Russell has described the intense criticism directed at Formula 1’s 2026 regulations as “premature”, defending the revamped rules amid ongoing debate in the paddock. The Mercedes driver pointed to the historically steep rate of improvement seen at the beginning of any new regulatory cycle.
Russell’s comments follow strong remarks from several drivers, most notably Max Verstappen, who labelled the new direction “anti-racing” and compared the cars to “Formula E on steroids” due to the heightened energy management demands of the updated power units.
Since the private shakedown at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, understanding of the 2026 package has evolved considerably within the paddock. The tone of criticism has softened during the second and final official pre-season test in Bahrain, with discussions at the latest F1 Commission meeting contributing to a more measured atmosphere.
“I do think there has been a lot of progression, to be honest,” Russell told media.
“Every ‘day one’ of a new set of regulations, you face challenges that you weren’t anticipating, and the rate of improvement is very steep in those early days — and I think this test has been a much smoother test for everyone.”
The five-time grand prix winner also emphasised that the new cars are not significantly slower than those at the end of the ground effect era, which concluded last season. According to Russell, performance comparisons suggest the gap is narrower than initially feared.
“If you actually look at the lap times and some of the race runs, the cars aren’t actually a million miles away from the lap times we were seeing 12 months ago, and that was year four of a set of regulations,” he said.
“I know there was a lot of heat after Barcelona and the first Bahrain test, which was probably a little bit premature. I think on the whole, people are a bit happier this week.”
Russell’s assessment highlights the transitional nature of early development under sweeping technical changes. With teams rapidly refining both chassis and power unit integration, the learning curve remains steep heading into the season opener in Melbourne.
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