Formula 1, Sportrik Media - Liam Lawson has admitted that the new-generation 2026 Formula 1 cars are not as physically easy to drive as he initially expected, despite reduced cornering speeds under the revised regulations.
The 2026 overhaul introduced narrower and smaller chassis alongside major power unit changes, placing greater emphasis on energy harvesting and deployment. While lower peak cornering speeds and reduced G-forces suggested a lighter physical load, the reality on track has proven more complex. Drivers are spending longer periods in corners due to reduced entry speeds, extending the sustained strain on the neck and upper body.
“To be fair, even though you're slower through the corners, you spend more time in the corners,” Lawson explained.
“It is still hard on the neck, so I was expecting it to be a lot easier, but it is actually not that different.”
Beyond the physical demands, Lawson highlighted the fundamentally different driving characteristics of the 2026 machinery. The revised power unit configuration, combined with aerodynamic adjustments and altered energy management systems, has produced a driving style he described as unlike anything he has previously experienced.
“These cars are unlike anything I've ever driven; they're a very, very new style of driving, and it doesn't relate to much else.”
When comparing the new Formula 1 cars to Formula 2 machinery, Lawson suggested that the gap between the two categories has not narrowed. Although F1 may be marginally slower in outright corner speeds compared to the previous era, the distinct driving techniques required could make the transition from F2 even more challenging.
“Formula 1 has always been extremely fast, and it never really related to F2, anyway.”
“So I think the gap from F2 to F1 was always too big, and it is not that it is smaller this year, it's that Formula 1 is slightly slower, but very different to drive, so maybe it relates even less.”
As teams continue to refine setups and optimise energy deployment under the new technical framework, drivers are adapting to a platform that demands a revised approach to corner entry, throttle application, and race management. The early rounds of the 2026 season will further clarify how these physical and technical factors influence competitive balance across the grid.
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