As Formula 1 prepares for a major regulatory overhaul in 2026, Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso is adopting a wait-and-see approach to the next-generation cars, despite early simulator testing raising concerns among drivers, including his teammate Lance Stroll.
Next season, the sport will introduce lighter, more agile cars powered by a 50-50 hybrid power unit, featuring active aerodynamics and slightly narrower Pirelli tyres.
While Formula 1 and the FIA anticipate that these changes will tighten competition, initial feedback from drivers suggests challenges in performance and drivability.
Stroll, who has publicly criticized F1’s direction, lamenting its increasing reliance on electric power, has already tested his team’s future design in Aston Martin’s simulator and came away concerned about how the new machines will handle on classic, high-speed circuits.
“For us drivers, for sure, I think these kinds of tracks, Spa, Suzuka, you know, high speed, less downforce, it’s not going to be as exciting as what it is now,” Stroll told reporters last month.
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st a fact until maybe a couple of years into the regs or whatever, I don’t know.
“But, it’s going to be a hit in downforce, and we’re going to be sliding around more than what we are now.”
Alonso keeping an open mind
Alonso, who also recently sampled the 2026 concept on the simulator, echoed Stroll’s point about reduced grip but is holding off on making any sweeping judgments just yet.
“I only did one day in the simulator, and it was difficult to really take any conclusions of that,” the two-time World Champion explained, quoted by Motorsport Week.
“So, I will wait a little bit longer, or maybe even to test a real car, because sometimes in the simulator, you have a feeling, and then on the real car you have a different one.”
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Alonso acknowledged that, compared to the current ground-effect machinery, the 2026 cars will inevitably feel less thrilling at first.
“Yeah, it’s less performance than this year. Every time a racing driver tests something that is slower, [they] will never like [it],” he admitted.
But the Spaniard also reminded fans – and his team-mate – that performance isn’t everything when it comes to enjoyment.
“But then we go in a rental car, with 12 horsepower, and we love it [laughs]. When we are all together, you know, and you fight and you win the race and it’s like you win the championship.
“So yeah, if next year you are fast, we will love the cars. And hopefully Lance can enjoy next year. That will be good news.”
With testing still in its early stages, the true impact of the new regulations will only become clear when the cars take to the track, offering a clearer picture of whether the sport’s vision for closer racing will materialize.
For now, Alonso’s measured stance serves as a reminder of the complexities involved in judging a new era of Formula 1 before it fully unfolds.
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