F1 | Former driver critical of the current state of Formula 1: “There is nothing natural left in this sport”
With the arrival of the new regulations, a former Formula 1 driver has expressed serious concern about the direction the sport is taking. Formula 1 is entering a new era, as a fresh regulatory cycle began in 2026, and what we will see on track is likely to be very different from last season. Precisely for this reason, former F1 driver Michael Bleekemolen has spoken out, voicing strong criticism of the current state of the category.
A fan of last season’s grid, which saw teams running extremely close to one another, Bleekemolen has admitted he is worried about a Formula 1 that, from this year onward, will no longer be the same. Watching how the sport’s original nature has been altered over the years has left him far from happy. “Everything is codified in rules, and that is damaging for racing,” the former Dutch driver explained.
Despite McLaren’s dominance, the 2025 season featured the tightest grid in the history of the sport. This made every race exciting, especially beyond the podium positions, and even delivered some emotional surprises for fans—such as Nico Hülkenberg’s podium finish at Silverstone. At the same time, it was also a very static year in terms of car updates, as teams were already approaching the end of the regulatory cycle.
The 2026 season will be completely different. Power units, cars, and the competitive order are all set to change dramatically. The FIA designed the new regulations with the goal of slowing the cars down, improving reliability, and continuing to push innovation, which has always been part of Formula 1’s DNA. However, not everyone is pleased with this direction, even though the new cars have yet to be seen in full competition.
The words of Bleekemolen
The new Formula 1 power unit regulations are reshaping the sport at a deep level, and for former driver Michael Bleekemolen, this is a worrying development.
“Well, I am worried [about the new regulations]. I fear that there will be huge differences between the teams and that we will no longer see fifteen cars within one second, like last year,” the Dutchman said in an interview with FORMULE 1 Magazine. “And that would be a terrible loss for the sport. We have never had such a competitive field in Formula 1 as we did last season. It was fantastic.”
When asked whether he believes it is a shame that the rules are changed every few years in the name of technical innovation, Bleekemolen did not hold back in expressing his opinion.
“I understand that Formula 1 must maintain its image as an innovative sport, a testing ground for the automotive industry and the latest technologies. The FIA is also behind all of this. But does this really make the sport better? I want to see Pete and Joe fighting wheel to wheel and braking harder. I don’t care how much power they extract—I just want to see good racing, and most of us agree on that. It is the eternal balance the sport faces, with innovation on one side and competition on the other.”
The former March driver, who competed in Formula 1 in a very different era back in 1977, believes that the sport has now become far too artificial.
“[Is Formula 1 too artificial?] Yes, absolutely. There is nothing natural left in this sport. Everything is codified in rules, and that is damaging for racing. We used to be able to improvise a little, but those days are over,” he concluded.
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