Vasseur answers critics: F1 new-era racing ‘less artificial than DRS'

As Formula 1 wrestles with the fallout from its bold 2026 regulation overhaul, Fred Vasseur isn’t interested in joining the chorus of critics.

Instead, the Ferrari team principal is pushing back – hard – against claims the sport has drifted into something overly manufactured.

The debate has intensified in recent weeks, with drivers like Max Verstappen and Lando Norris questioning both the complexity of the new rules and the way they shape racing.

The introduction of advanced energy deployment strategies has produced a stop-start, tactical style of racing that some have dismissed as “yo-yo racing.”

Vasseur, however, sees something very different.

‘Much less artificial than the DRS’

Speaking at the FIA press conference in Miami on Friday, Vasseur made it clear he believes the criticism has missed the mark.

“I would be less harsh than you on the show of the first three events,” he said told reporters. “Honestly, we had good races, a lot of overtaking.”

And then came his central argument – that today’s racing, driven by energy management rather than push-button advantages, is actually more authentic than what came before.

“You can say that perhaps you have the feeling that it’s a bit artificial but for me it’s much less artificial than the DRS,” he countered.

“DRS was just to push on the button. Today, it’s energy management and it’s coming from the drivers or from the team. It’s not artificial at all and I would say that for sure we have to fine-tune, we have to adapt.

“Thanks to the FIA we had the capacity to discuss after each event to try to improve the system. Once again, it’s not easy to do it during the season but we are, I think, all collaborative with this.”

In Vasseur’s view, what critics label as artificial is in fact a more complex, more demanding layer of racecraft – one that puts decision-making back into the hands of drivers and engineers rather than relying on a simple overtaking aid.

Evolution, not revolution

That doesn’t mean the system is perfect. Even Vasseur acknowledges there is room – and time – to refine what F1 has built.

“Regarding the future, we have different options on the table,” he explained.

“I think it will be soon time to discuss the different options, but from the beginning we have one parameter in mind, it’s also to reduce the crazy budget of the engine.

“This is for the PU manufacturers but also for customers and for the benefit of F1. I think that now we can discuss all the opportunities and we’ll have time to do it soon.”

That broader perspective – balancing spectacle, innovation, and cost – is shared by former Scuderia chief Mattia Binotto, now leading Audi’s F1 project, who offered a similarly measured take.

“Our drivers are enjoying the current format and I think it has been a big change to the past. Everyone needs to adapt to the changes but overall, if you look and watch the races, for the fans it has been a great show,” commented the Italian.

“Overtaking since the very first race, close fights, which is not obvious when you’ve got such a big discrepancy in the regulations. So I think the format is a great format and F1 remains a platform for innovation.

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“So what will be the future? I think it’s too early to say, certainly we have started discussing it with the FIA. We will, I think, sit down, discuss what's best for F1.

“But I will not be so negative on the current format. Overall, I think it’s a good format. If you look in the past, I think there have been eras where Formula 1 was more boring. So overall, I don’t think we should be so negative.”

Between Vasseur’s defiance and Binotto’s pragmatism, a clear message emerges: Formula 1 is in transition – and not everyone is willing to dismiss its new direction.

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