Former Formula 1 driver Sergey Sirotkin has voiced strong criticism of the championship's upcoming 2026 technical regulations. In a recent interview, the Russian driver expressed his dissatisfaction with what he perceives as a fundamental shift away from the core of motorsport.
Sirotkin's main concern centers on the changing nature of a driver's job behind the wheel. He argues that the new rules are significantly reducing the emphasis on pure driving skill and car control. Instead, the focus is moving towards the strategic management of the car's energy systems.
"The new regulations don't appeal to me," Sirotkin stated. He elaborated that the percentage of a lap time influenced by how and when a driver deploys energy is growing to a point where it can outweigh the gains from simply navigating corners with precision and attacking the track.
To illustrate his point, Sirotkin drew a direct comparison to his own experience in the all-electric Formula E series. He recalled a test session in Morocco back in 2018, where the driving challenge was similarly dominated by energy conservation and deployment strategies rather than outright speed.
"In Formula E, you are less focused on pure speed and more on where, when, and how much energy to spend," he explained. He noted that even a small mistake in cornering technique would result in minimal time loss compared to the potential consequences of mismanaging the energy budget over a lap.
The driver's comments highlight a growing debate within the F1 community about the direction of the sport's technical rules. The 2026 overhaul, which includes significant changes to power unit regulations and active aerodynamics, aims to improve racing and sustainability, but critics like Sirotkin worry it may come at the cost of driver-centric competition.
Sirotkin, who raced in Formula 1 with the Williams team in 2018, suggests that the evolving regulations are creating a scenario where the art of driving on the absolute limit is becoming secondary to the science of energy efficiency. This perspective adds a critical voice to the ongoing discussion about the future spectacle of Formula 1.
Based on reporting from Чемпионат.com.