“These new regulations have changed the DNA of F1. And I don’t like it at all.” It’s a blunt dismissal from Carlos Sainz Sr. regarding the new era of Formula One. With artificial overtakes and cars increasingly resembling Formula E electric vehicles, the Spanish motorsport veteran insists that “Liberty Media and the FIA need to intervene as soon as possible.” A challenging mission, certainly, but necessary. For the “Matador,” it’s as if the rules of football were suddenly changed: “It’s like we started playing differently, with a different ball and a smaller goal.”
The problem with overtakes
The most critical point in the two-time World Rally Champion’s analysis concerns the very nature of on-track duels. According to Carlos Sainz Sr., overtakes have become “too easy and artificial, both in corners and on the straights.” The culprit lies in the new power units, capable of generating electric power differences that make everything feel fake: “In Australia, I didn’t see maximum-braking maneuvers or daring passes, just overtakes that gave me the impression of being somewhat artificial. The quality and the essence of what Formula 1 racing has been were missing.”
The complexity of the new F1
While he appreciates the aesthetics of the new cars, “lighter and without the problem of bouncing on the straights,” Carlos Sainz insists that a balance must be restored between the electric and combustion aspects – something “the FIA and Liberty Media must address as soon as possible.” Beyond the spectacle, safety is also a concern. Here, Sainz Sr. shares his son Carlos’ worries about the massive speed differences that can arise from varied energy management strategies. “In this sense, they are very aware of what they are saying, and I’m convinced that if they’ve talked about it, it’s because they’ve experienced it on track.”
Too complex even for fans
But it doesn’t stop there. The new Formula One risks becoming too complex and difficult for fans to follow. “I think F1 should be simple and intuitive, not something spectators have to study to understand during a race. Right now it’s very complex, with too many parameters between super-clipping and overtake modes. Even I struggle to understand it,” Carlos Sainz explains.
Widening gaps on track
Carlos Sainz Sr. also expresses concern about a championship where gaps are once again huge. “That the leader is lapping the seventh-placed car is not, in my opinion, the best spectacle.” In this context, Carlos Sainz Jr.’s future at Williams looks challenging. “Obviously, after last year, he hoped to be higher up, but now the team is at the bottom of the standings. Practically two and a half seconds behind the leaders.” The situation is no better for fellow Spaniard Fernando Alonso, held back by the clear technical limitations of his Aston Martin: “I didn’t expect this; it’s a really complex situation.”
The “Matador’s” words reflect a growing unease within the paddock as the 2026 technical cycle begins to reveal its true face. As Formula 1 moves toward the Chinese Grand Prix, the focus will not only be on the battle between Ferrari and Mercedes, but also on whether the FIA takes these criticisms from legends like Sainz Sr. to heart. With the Shanghai circuit featuring massive straights where energy management will be even more critical, the risk of “fake” overtaking is at an all-time high. The hope is that the sport finds a way to return to its roots—where the driver’s skill on the brakes matters more than a software-driven power boost. If the gaps don’t narrow soon, the complexity of the “new F1” might push away the very audience it seeks to captivate.
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