Lewis Hamilton Explains F1 2026 Driving Shift

Formula 1, Sportrik Media – Lewis Hamilton has explained why Formula 1 drivers must significantly adapt their driving styles in 2026, describing energy management under the new regulations as “crucial” to overall performance.

The 2026 power unit regulations introduce a 50-50 split between internal combustion and an upgraded electrical system. As a result, drivers must manage battery state of charge far more carefully than in 2025, as depletion forces the car to revert to internal combustion power only, compromising lap time.

To protect energy levels, drivers are increasingly required to lift and coast. Max Verstappen was observed experimenting with an aggressive technique, shifting down to first gear at low-speed corners to raise engine revs and harvest additional energy back into the system.

“The low gears that we have to go down into are because we can’t recover enough battery power, so we have to rev the engines very, very high,” Hamilton told media including RacingNews365.

“We’re going down into second, or first in some places, just to try and recover that extra bit of power.”

Hamilton pointed to Barcelona as an example of the extreme adaptation required, noting that drivers were lifting and coasting for up to 600 metres even on qualifying laps.

“If you look at somewhere like Barcelona, we’re doing 600 metres lifting and coasting on a qualifying lap, so that’s not what racing is about.”

“Here, we’re not having to do that as much because there are lots of braking zones, but it doesn’t help because the steps between the ratios are quite heavy. When you kick down into first gear, it can snap, and there is also very low downforce.”

Hamilton emphasised that energy deployment strategy will likely define the competitive hierarchy in 2026, both from a team and driver perspective.

“Energy management is going to be key. Which team is most on top of deployment and all of that, and which driver is on top of that. The management control which drivers are getting those things is going to be crucial.”

“But we’ll find out more as we get into the race scenarios, but everyone is in the same boat.”

With the new regulations placing greater emphasis on electrical deployment efficiency, 2026 is shaping up to reward precision, adaptability and strategic energy control as much as outright pace in the emerging era of Formula 1.