As Formula 1’s controversial new era continues to divide opinion, Nico Hulkenberg has delivered the paddock’s bluntest response yet to critics of the 2026 regulations.
Stop complaining – or stop watching.
The sweeping new engine rules, which introduced an almost equal split between combustion and electrical power, have triggered fierce debate across the sport.
Drivers have voiced frustration over heavy energy management demands, concerns have emerged about dangerous closing-speed differences, and many fans argue the new cars have stripped away part of Formula 1’s raw identity.
Formula 1 bosses have already reacted. Tweaks were rushed through in Miami, while plans are now in place to alter the engine balance again for 2027, shifting toward a 60-40 combustion-to-electric split in response to mounting criticism.
But Hulkenberg is having none of the outrage.
“To be honest, it’s always been like that in F1, hasn’t it? F1 is about leading in technology, and you have to go with the times,” the 38-year-old German told The Drive.
“If you look at the automotive industry 5 years ago, 10 years ago, it’s different now; it has changed.
“I think when you look at the racing now, the first three races we’ve had [in 2026], it’s been entertaining. It’s been good to watch with plenty of on-track action. And I mean, if you don’t like it, you don’t have to watch.”
Formula 1’s identity crisis
Hulkenberg’s remarks cut directly into the emotional fault line running through Formula 1’s latest transformation.
For traditionalists, the new era represents another step away from the sport’s visceral roots – a world once dominated by screaming V10s, mechanical brutality and flat-out racing. The criticism has not just been technical; it has been cultural.
But Hulkenberg argues that nostalgia cannot dictate Formula 1’s future.
“F1 is evolving all the time,” Hulkenberg added. “Obviously, you have these purists that love the old school and the sound of a naturally aspirated V10 and V12 - including myself! - but the reality is that it doesn’t work like that.
“A few years ago, sustainability was a huge topic, now less so. But, you know, I kind of feel like F1 and its rulemakers were pushed a little bit in that direction to stay with current times.
“If you want to stay up to date and be a legit business and entertainment model, you have to go down that road.”
Audi’s moment arrives in F1’s new age
There is also a deeper layer to Hulkenberg’s defence of the regulations.
The new rules were designed specifically to attract manufacturers like Audi into Formula 1 by increasing the relevance of hybrid technology and sustainable power development.
The German manufacturer’s arrival as a full works operation in 2026 stands as one of the clearest examples of the sport’s modernisation strategy in action.
That is why Formula 1’s leadership appears unwilling to abandon the direction entirely – even as backlash grows louder.
Instead, the sport is trying to recalibrate without retreating.
For Hulkenberg, the message is simple: Formula 1 has always evolved, always upset purists, and always survived arguments about whether the past was better.
This time, he believes, will be no different.
Read also: Audi must ‘tidy up’ power unit issues, says McNish
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