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Karun Chandhok believes Lewis Hamilton comparing the 2026 F1 regulations to karting is not ‘a fair comparison’.
Ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton defended the 2026 Formula 1 regulations after his battle with Charles Leclerc at the Chinese Grand Prix.
The seven-time Formula 1 Champion suggested that the new rules have taken him back to his karting days due to the back and forth nature of the racing.
However, the regulations have come under fire from the majority of the paddock and drivers, as it is now believed that Hamilton has missed the point when it comes to the negative views.
Who do you agree with more about the 2026 regulations – Lewis Hamilton or Max Verstappen?
Karun Chandhok says it is not fair to compare karting to F1
During the Paddock Uncut show ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix, Karun Chandhok discussed Hamilton’s statements about the 2026 Formula 1 regulations.
The former driver says that the ‘disgruntlement’ from the other Formula 1 drivers comes from the different engine speeds from the hybrid engines that have been introduced for the 2026 season.
Chandhok said, “I don’t think it is a fair comparison actually, because in karting you don’t have the situation where one person’s engine goes faster than another when you do karting. That is what I think the disgruntlement from other drivers and fans has been.
“It is that they are passing with the battery, and you get that in other championships, you have it in sports cars, and you have it in other types of racing, so to me, I think we all have to get used to this new type of Formula 1.
“The battle that we saw between Charles and Lewis, which he talked about being such a fun experience, that was pure driving, those overtaking moves in the middle of the lap was pure bravery, pure commitment, and also having to do creative thinking in terms of where to overtake.
“I think that is what we are going to get to see more of, the drivers will come to think, ‘Actually, I can use more energy and pass someone down the straight, but they will pass me straight back, but maybe I need to try to pass someone at Turn Five at Budapest’.
“They have to start thinking outside of the box, I think we still have to give it time to see how everyone settles into the new style of racing, and there is no doubt that we will still get the battery overtakes down the straight. But is it much different from the DRS moves that we used to see?
“I think we just have to see how the teams, drivers, the FIA and the sport develops around this new form of racing.”
What’s your podium prediction for the Japanese Grand Prix?
Lewis Hamilton’s newfound success with the 2026 regulations
Despite the majority of the grid disliking the 2026 Formula 1 regulations, the Ferrari and Mercedes drivers have remained very quiet after their positive start to the year.
Former Formula 1 driver, Juan Pablo Montoya, believes that Hamilton may be able to get into Charles Leclerc’s head after his positive start to the year.
Montoya said, “Lewis is hungry and clearly feels more comfortable in the car… He has more support around him, and that makes a world of difference at this level.”
Whereas, on the other end of the spectrum, Jolyon Palmer is wary of stating that Hamilton is back, as he has only performed at two circuits that he has done well at historically.
Palmer said, “We will see if Lewis is really back or if these are just a couple of circuits where he’s more competitive.”
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