After the Belgian GP, many F1 drivers have once again been critical of the 2026 regulations. The longest circuit on the calendar mercilessly exposed the weaknesses of the current energy management. “Spa-Francorchamps is not the same anymore,” sighed a disappointed Max Verstappen afterwards. Reigning world champion Lando Norris, however, stands firm. He believes F1 drivers simply need to adapt.
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“What we saw at Spa-Francorchamps was not Formula 1,” Sergio Pérez summarized the problem to the press in Hungary. Because the new F1 cars are much more dependent on electrical energy recovered during a lap, many drivers lacked speed on the long straights. This led to distressing images and growing disappointment among seasoned F1 fans. George Russell, previously a supporter of the new regulations, also complained afterwards that he had to adapt his driving style too much.
‘Then you’re not good enough’
In the run-up to the Hungarian GP, Lando Norris responded to his competitors. He stands firm and emphasized that F1 drivers have always had to adapt. “I mean, I’ve had to adapt my driving style every year of my life,” he noted. “Apparently, for him (Russell, ed.) it worked for twenty years, but not for me. My driving style worked in 2018, when I did my first tests, but that’s where it stayed; since then I’ve always adapted.”
“I think the more experience you have in Formula 1, the better prepared you should be for it,” the McLaren driver continued sternly. “If you can’t adapt to a different car, then you’re not good enough. It’s our job, it’s what we get paid millions for. Whether you get a good, bad, difficult or simple car, you have to learn to deal with it.” Norris explained that he still searches for the right driving style every Grand Prix weekend. “Every race I drive, I feel like I have to completely forget the previous weekend and learn how to drive a new car, because that’s just how it works for us,” he explained. “Of course, every driver is different, but for now, my F1 career is about making adjustments per season.”
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‘Drivers still make the difference’
Verstappen previously stated that it has indeed become more difficult for drivers in 2026 to make a difference. The four-time world champion, who in the past relied on his own strength to push the car to its limits, finds it harder to make his mark under these F1 regulations. Norris also disagrees with this. “You can definitely make a difference,” he emphasized. “The better driver can still gain an advantage in the corners, although some corners have become slightly less important as a result.”
“Admittedly, on very fast circuits, such as Silverstone and Spa-Francorchamps, there are fewer corners where you can effectively gain lap time,” he added. “But that doesn’t apply to the Hungaroring, for example. Certain corners will be more important than ever, because the top speed is higher than last year and at the same time we have less grip. That actually offers opportunities for good drivers to make a difference.”
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Read everything about the Hungarian GP here
