Charles Leclerc's 2026 Return Brings Pure Racing Bliss and Unforgettable Moments for Fans!
The new F1 regulations have divided opinion: some think the racing is now like Mario Kart, but Leclerc is relishing the challenge
Motorsport photo Charles Leclerc reckons the new 2026 Formula 1 cars don’t actually feel “artificial” despite several drivers strongly criticising the latest regulation overhaul. Cars this year are completely different than before, with the chassis being nimbler and having less downforce, while the power unit is more reliant on electrical energy with a near-50:50 split against the internal combustion engine. This has caused a difference in how the racing has looked across the opening two rounds of 2026 - Australia and China - with more wheel-to-wheel battles due to the ‘yo-yo’ style nature.
During Sunday’s Chinese Grand Prix, for example, a driver would often make an overtake at the Turn 14 hairpin before losing position again down the pit straight, with the battle then continuing through the lap. Max Verstappen certainly isn’t a fan of this, claiming those who enjoy it ‘don’t understand racing’ , while the likes of Lando Norris , Carlos Sainz and Esteban Ocon hold similar opinions. Read Also: Lando Norris: F1 has gone from “the best cars ever” to "probably the worst” It is the increased reliance on battery management that they don’t like, but those who have been fighting at the front, namely drivers of Mercedes or Ferrari , have been supporters of the new regs.
“I enjoy it and it doesn't feel so artificial from inside the car,” said Ferrari’s Leclerc. “Of course, you've got those overtakes where it's artificial, whenever someone is doing a mistake with the battery and completely drains it and then, there's a massive speed difference. “But, I feel like we are all converging a little bit towards knowing where shouldn't we go and where can we try and take the risk and so, that creates very interesting overtaking places.
I think today was the showing of that. ” What Sunday did show was wheel-to-wheel battles through the Turn 6-9 complex in Shanghai which hadn’t really been witnessed before. This included the constant battle between Leclerc, his Ferrari team-mate Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes man George Russell , who were all constantly squabbling over positions second to fourth.