F1 | Will the new Formula 1 cars be like Formula E? Here’s what Alex Albon says. Alex Albon compares the 2026 Formula 1 cars to Formula E.

Alex Albon compares the 2026 Formula 1 cars to Formula E. His team principal James Vowles believes the cars will be easier to drive.

Alex Albon has shared his expectations for the upcoming season, even going as far as to compare the new Formula 1 cars to those in Formula E. James Vowles, team principal of the Williams Racing team, stated that the new 2026 technical regulations will make Formula 1 cars simpler and more manageable to drive. In a recent interview, Vowles explained that during simulator testing, the new F1 cars feel “very different to drive compared to the current ones” and that electric energy management will play a major role.

Albon: “Next year’s F1 cars will be more similar to Formula E”
With the new regulations, managing energy and strategy throughout each race lap will be crucial. Alex Albon pointed out some notable similarities with Formula E cars:

“It’s still early to say, but just look at Formula E as a more extreme version of where we’re heading. You can see how drivers manipulate the race and qualifying, how they use all these elements to improve performance. It won’t be as extreme, but drivers with the mental capacity to understand and adapt to all these demands will do well. There will be much more focus on simulator work during the winter, to understand how everything works and to try different driving styles.”

James Vowles: “There will be more overtaking”
James Vowles, team principal of Williams, explained how the driving style required for the new cars differs from the current generation:

“The first time one of our drivers took the 2026 car rules into the simulator, it was difficult because it radically changes some aspects of driving. Then the second time it started feeling more normal, though there were still complaints. By the fourth time, there wasn’t much to discuss anymore. It just became the new normal.”

James Vowles also spoke about active aerodynamics. According to the team principal, this innovation will promote overtaking and improve the on-track spectacle:

“I think we will see much bigger differences in straight-line speed on certain straights, thanks to how energy and different modes can be managed. I believe that at some point overtaking could actually increase rather than be hindered. The concept of racing now means that if you have a faster car, I think the driver will have more tools available than this year.”