Sainz: 'F1 is trying to sell something we all know isn’t right'

Amid the mounting criticism of Formula 1’s new regulations, Carlos Sainz has accused the sport of trying to dress up a flawed product, suggesting even those in charge know something isn’t quite right.

The controversy over Grand Prix racing’s new-generation machines intensified during the Chinese Grand Prix weekend, in part due to eagle-eyed fans spotting what appeared to be manipulated onboard graphics on the world feed.

The info seemingly masked the new power units’ “superclipping" phenomenon, where engines lose massive amounts of power once battery reserves are drained. For Sainz, this digital sleight of hand is a confession of failure.

“I think in a track like China they are not that bad, because we are very energy-rich and harvesting-rich, which means the engines behave very differently to last year, but not as different as they did in Melbourne,” Sainz remarked, before sharpening his tone.

“In Melbourne, Monza, Spa, it definitely needs a rethink. I think development will also do its part. But I’m also 100% sure this is not F1 the way I want to see it.”

The Spaniard went further, accusing the sport's leadership of trying to manufacture a spectacle that the hardware simply cannot deliver.

“And I’m also quite sure that the people at the top also see that and know that,” he added.

“When you look at what they are doing with graphics and everything, they are trying to do their best to sell something that I think we all know is not the right formula for Formula 1.

“So, I’m really hoping that there’s going to be changes soon, because it’s not the best formula.”

‘Not a great look for the sport’

Sainz’s frustration isn't just about the "battery world championship" occurring on track, but the sheer fragility of the 2026 machinery.

With both McLarens, an Audi, and his own teammate Alex Albon failing to even start the race in Shanghai, Sainz believes F1 has over-engineered itself into a corner.

“For sure, it’s not a great look for F1,” he noted pointedly. “But I think not having two McLarens, a Williams, and Audi, shows how difficult we make our life to come up with super complicated engines with incredibly complicated software and batteries.

“It’s still down to the teams to come up with a reliable engine, but when the rules are so demanding and so constrained, it is difficult to come up with something reliable because it is extremely complex for everyone.”

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Despite his scathing assessment of the current state of play, Sainz left the door open for a pivot, provided F1 stops trying to hide the truth.

“But as long as everyone is aware, I think it’s ok for everyone to not get it completely right at the start of a season, and then make adjustments to ensure it gets better,” he conceded.

“I don’t know, I have in mind what the ideal Formula 1 should be, and this is very far from it. At the same time, I hope that development and fine-tuning the regulations should make things better in the future.”

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