The first race of the 2026 Formula 1 season received a lot of criticism from many drivers and fans thanks to the performance of the new hybrid power units.
The series switched to a radical new formula this season that aims for a 50/50 power split between the internal combustion engine and electric motor that requires an unusual driving style.
Drivers need to harvest electrical energy through various means, including “superclipping,” which cuts drive power near the end of straights to recharge the battery. This causes the cars to slow early and unexpectedly, which some drivers said presents a new safety hazard to trailing cars.
The stored energy can then be deployed in either Boost mode or Overtake mode, both of which give the cars a short burst of extra power for defending or passing. The Australian Grand Prix featured more passes than usual for the track, but many found them to be too artificial. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was heard over the radio comparing it to the mushroom boosts in the Mario Kart video game.
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The cars are also equipped with active aerodynamic systems that reduce drag on straight sections and increase it in corners, in an effort to improve their efficiency while keeping top speeds high.
Based on the feedback from the first race, Formula 1 is reportedly preparing to implement several updates to how it all works in time for the third round in Japan, but final details have yet to be determined. However, pre-season fears that the cars would be much slower over the course of a lap have proved to be unfounded.
Max Verstappen poisted the fastest race lap at 1:22.091 during his incredible drive in the Ford-powered Red Bull from a 20th place start to a sixth place finish, which beat Lando Norris’ 1:22.167 lap in 2025 with the old formula. Both were slower than Charles Leclerc’s all-time record of 1:19.813 set in 2024.
Formula 1 has one more race to collect data from before it makes any decisions heading into Japan, as the series will be racing at China’s Shanghai International Circuit on March 15.
