Damon Hill has heard commentators making the same complaint about F1 this year

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Damon Hill pointed out one issue under the new F1 regulations that has posed problems for the analysts and the audience.

A lot has been made about the new Formula 1 regulations and how they have impacted the sport and the overall viewing experience for fans.

While drivers like Max Verstappen were unhappy with the 2026 regulations and made their feelings known early on, some fans still tried to give it a chance.

You’re the FIA: What’s the first thing you would change in the 2026 regulations?

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But as the problems under the new ruleset have been exposed, fans have voiced their disappointment with Formula 1 electing to go with a new ruleset as controversial and divisive as this.

However, it isn’t just fans that are disappointed, as Damon Hill has explained how this has impacted him and other F1 commentators and their ability to keep the viewing audience in the loop.

Damon Hill points out F1 commentators’ huge concern with the 2026 F1 regulations

Speaking on the BBC’s Chequered Flag podcast, Damon Hill pointed out how he and several other F1 commentators have struggled under the new ruleset.

Because of the complicated nature of the split between combustion and battery power in the new engines, it makes life very difficult for the commentators to know what the reasons for a driver’s performances are.

“I get them muddled up. I’m thinking back to the starts and I’m going, ’Was that the sprint start or was that the main race event? But it’s good because there is plenty to talk about.

“I did hear, not just ourselves, but it’s very difficult for commentators to explain to people watching whether or not this overtake was because they got a flat battery or they’ve run out of deployment. So we need to work on that. It’s very difficult to get that information.

“I’ve heard other commentators complaining that it might be something we need to help people understand because we don’t.”

READ MORE: F1 commentators 2026: full Sky Sports and F1 TV presenter line-up including David Croft and Ted Kravitz

Damon Hill points out a ‘massively complicated’ problem with the 2026 F1 regulations

Speaking further on the matter, Hill noted that the commentators often find themselves asking how to explain certain occurrences to audiences during the race.

“We’re looking and we’re going to go, ‘Why is that car going slowly?’ So that is a new aspect to these regulations. It is quite complicated. Massively complicated.

“And as the weekend goes on and as the cars run on the circuit, even during the race, they are adjusting the way that the batteries and the cars deploy their energy. So it’s never one lap to the next.”

Some were able to anticipate these issues ahead of time, which is why a section of fans asked F1 to show a graphic of the battery levels during races, which they have implemented so far.

But clearly, the new regulation change has created problems for Formula 1 that not just the drivers, but even the broadcasters are having to deal with.