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Former Ferrari star Felipe Massa has slammed the 2026 Formula 1 regulations, claiming they are turning drivers into engineers.
Heading into the 2026 F1 season, wholesale changes were made to the sport’s regulations.
For example, cars are now smaller, lighter and more reliant on battery power, which promised to provide closer on-track battles.
Although the number of overtakings has increased, drivers and fans have been left underwhelmed by the new era.
Four-time world champion Max Verstappen has been vocal about the new rules, stating they are ‘anti-driving’.
There have also been reports that Verstappen could retire at the end of the 2026 season due to the new regulations.
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Felipe Massa hits out at Formula 1’s ‘terrible’ new regulations
Speaking recently to Spanish news outlet Sport, ex-F1 driver Massa criticised the new rules, claiming that they are turning drivers into ‘more of an engineer’.
Massa, who drove for the likes of Williams, Ferrari and Sauber, also stated that F1 ‘needs to understand what the correct rules are’.
He said: “What’s happening isn’t pleasant; it’s not what everyone wants to see. F1 needs to understand what the correct rules are. Of course, we see many overtakes, but not the right ones, rather the fake ones, and this isn’t what we want to see.
“In Formula 1, drivers have to drive at the limit most of the time, both in qualifying and in the race. That’s what people want to see. Now you have to be a bit more of an engineer than a driver. This isn’t right. They need to understand what needs to be done with the regulations immediately.
“And besides, last year we finished the championship with a difference between all the cars of, maybe, one second, one and a half seconds at most. Now we see cars that are five seconds behind.
“That’s truly terrible, and it’s not the Formula 1 that everyone wants to see. It’s important that the FIA and FOM, as well as Formula 1, also understand what’s best for the sport.”
Should F1 make small tweaks to the rules, rather than major changes?
READ MORE: F1 fans livid over race start rule change that the FIA ‘snuck’ into updated regulations
What change would Max Verstappen make to the current F1 regulations?
As reported by Dutch news outlet De Telegraaf, Verstappen spoke about the conversations he has had with the FIA.
He said: “I’m just trying to adjust it. Even if I stop in a few years, I do want it to remain a decent sport. Something has to change.”
When asked about what changes he wants to see made to the new version of F1, Verstappen said: “Then I would choose to have the V10 or V8 engines come back.”
Following meetings held with all parties involved in F1, it has since been confirmed that multiple changes will be implemented.
For example, there is the hope that ‘superclipping’ will be limited by reducing the amount of energy recharge to 7 MJ and increasing the amount of power recovered at full throttle to 350kW.
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