Esteban Ocon echoes Max Verstappen that 2026 cars lack ‘fun’ despite three overtakes a lap potential

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Esteban Ocon largely shares Max Verstappen’s view that the 2026 F1 regulations have not produced cars that are “fun”, but “everyone” will love them if the racing is better.

The 2026 F1 regulations mark the biggest overhaul of the rulebook in history after the series introduced new chassis, aero and tyre rules to support the power unit rules. F1 engines now have a near 50/50 split between electric and combustion power, and the MGU-H is no more.

Many paddock figures often raised concerns ahead of the new regulations coming into force that the new engine rules would force drivers to lift and coast much earlier on the straights to recover enough electrical energy. And those fears seem to have been proven during testing.

Red Bull racer Verstappen was one of the first drivers using lower gears to recover energy at the Bahrain test this week, along with downshifting aggressively under braking. Four-time F1 champion Verstappen even suggested the new cars are “like Formula E on steroids” to drive.

Have the 2026 regulations made F1 worse, with Max Verstappen likening driving the new cars to Formula E?

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Esteban Ocon thinks ‘everyone’ will love the 2026 F1 regulations if there are three overtakes a lap

Haas driver Ocon largely agrees with Verstappen that the 2026 F1 regulations have not seen teams be able to build new cars that are much fun to drive. But the Frenchman believes it is “too early” to declare a verdict, as “everyone” will love the cars if there are more overtakes.

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about F1’s 2026 engine and aero regulations

Given the amount of energy saving that drivers now must do each lap to ensure they do not run out of electrical power too soon, Ocon – albeit cautiously – can see a scenario where up to three overtakes per lap may be possible. He is also glad to have a fresh challenge to learn.

Ocon told Automoto.it: “First of all, let’s start on the positive side, it’s a new challenge for all of us. I arrived in F1 and for 10 years we had more or less the same regulations, the same engine [and] very similar tools. Now, we have to learn everything from scratch.

“Is it the most fun [to drive]? Maybe not necessarily. But it’s interesting to try to sort everything out with the engineers and get the most out of the situation. It’s a new driving style [and] a new way of doing things.”

He added: “If tomorrow we go racing in Melbourne and there are three overtaking moves per lap, everyone will say it’s fantastic. I’m more on the cautious side.

“We’ll see how it goes [and] if it favours overtaking and the spectacle. If it doesn’t, maybe we’ll need some briefings. But it’s too early to tell.”

What did Max Verstappen say about the 2026 F1 cars not being ‘fun’ to drive?

The 2026 F1 regulations have created a lot of mixed emotions among the drivers during the Barcelona shakedown at the close of January and the first official pre-season test in Bahrain this week. Verstappen has been one of the most vocal F1 drivers to have raised his concerns.

“As a driver, the feeling is not very Formula 1-like,” Verstappen said, via BBC Sport. “It feels a bit more like Formula E on steroids. As a pure driver, I enjoy driving flat out. And at the moment, you cannot drive like that. There’s a lot going on.”

Will the 2026 regulations be the end of Max Verstappen in F1?

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But while Haas driver Ocon largely shares Verstappen’s sentiment that the additional energy management now required to nurse the battery is not much fun, other F1 drivers have been more positive about the new rules – including the 2025 champion, Lando Norris of McLaren.

“A lot of fun,” Norris said, via BBC Sport. “I really enjoyed it. Formula 1 changes all the time. Sometimes it’s a bit better to drive, sometimes not as good to drive.

“But we get paid a stupid amount of money to drive, so we can’t really complain in the end of the day. It’s a challenge, but it’s a good, fun challenge for the engineers and the drivers.”

Red Bull’s Verstappen was the best-paid F1 driver in 2025 at £57m, ahead of Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton at £53m. Thanks to Norris winning the F1 drivers’ championship for the first time in 2025, McLaren paid the Briton £49.5m, of which £29.5m was made up through bonuses.