Lance Stroll Slams 2026 F1 Regulations

F1 Grand Prix Of Great Britain Practice
NORTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - JULY 04: Lance Stroll of Canada and Aston Martin F1 Team prepares to drive during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Great Britain at Silverstone Circuit on July 04, 2025 in Northampton, England. (Photo by Zak Mauger/LAT Images) 2223536837 Colour Image, Horizontal, sport, motorsport, formula one racing
F1 Grand Prix Of Great Britain Practice
NORTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - JULY 04: Lance Stroll of Canada and Aston Martin F1 Team prepares to drive during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Great Britain at Silverstone Circuit on July 04, 2025 in Northampton, England. (Photo by Zak Mauger/LAT Images) 2223536837 Colour Image, Horizontal, sport, motorsport, formula one racing

Lance Stroll has joined the list of Formula 1 drivers expressing disappointment with the 2026 regulations – but his own team’s simulator drivers suggest the reality may be improving.

“I’ve driven it in the simulator, and that’s why I’m a bit sad,” the Canadian told AS. “It’s a shame that in Formula 1 we’re opting for electric power and have had to reduce all the downforce to support battery power.

“It would be fun to see cars that are light, agile, fast, and have a lot of downforce. To put it simply, it would be less of a science project about a battery-powered championship and more of a Formula 1 racing series.

“I think a lot of drivers can agree with that, and I don’t think some of them can talk about it for political reasons.”

Stroll added: “It’s exciting to think about cars that can be louder, lighter, and not so focused on energy or batteries. That’s not very racing-friendly.”

However, Aston Martin F2 driver and simulator tester Jak Crawford indicated that recent work behind the scenes has brought significant improvements.

“There’s been a lot of evolution, with both the power unit and the chassis,” he said. “It’s not totally representative of how the car will feel come round one in Australia, but it gives us a good idea.

“I’ve never helped develop a power unit before. It’s fascinating to see the progress we’re making based on our wind tunnel data and the work with Honda.”

Honda, Aston Martin’s 2026 engine partner, is believed to be pursuing a different technical path to other manufacturers. Team CEO Andy Cowell recently said the chassis and power unit already “fit like a glove”.

While Red Bull and the FIA have debated reintroducing simpler V8 engines, Honda remains a key backer of the 2026 hybrid formula.

From F1 news to tech, history to opinions, F1 Chronicle has a free Substack. To deliver the stories you want straight to your inbox, click here.

New to Formula 1? Check out our Glossary of F1 Terms, and our Beginners Guide to Formula 1 to fast-track your F1 knowledge.

Comments

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

More in News

Screenshot 20250810 081638 Instagram

Rafael Camara the Future of Ferrari

Five pole positions, four Feature Race victories, and a championship ...
2018 Singapore Grand Prix, Saturday Paul Ripke

Toto Wolff Defends “GOAT” Lewis Hamilton

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has leapt to the defence ...
4807

Jean Alesi Questions Hamilton’s Mindset

Former Ferrari driver Jean Alesi has added his voice to ...
Motor Racing Formula One World Championship Australian Grand Prix Qualifying Day Melbourne, Australia

Carlos Sainz Urges Williams Philosophy Change

Carlos Sainz has urged Williams to pursue a "change in ...
Zak Brown, Ceo, Mclaren Racing

Zak Brown Backs Cadillac’s Entry into F1

Zak Brown has played down persistent concerns about Cadillac's confirmed ...

Trending on F1 Chronicle