After the first Bahrain pre-season tests, drivers did not hold back in their opinions about the new FIA regulations and the 2026 Formula 1 cars. Fernando Alonso quickly emerged as one of the most outspoken voices, sparking debate within the paddock.
One of the hottest topics among drivers in Bahrain was energy management as dictated by the new FIA rules. The 2026 F1 cars now require extremely careful use of the electric power component, impacting both top speeds and the way corners are approached during a single lap.
The differences in straight-line performance are significant, but the biggest change has been in driving style. Several drivers admitted that they now have to think far more in terms of energy saving and distribution rather than pure attack on track.
Lewis Hamilton, while pleased to see the return of cars without ground-effect, joked about the complexity of the new F1 cars. According to the seven-time world champion, mastering all the energy-related parameters almost requires a degree.
Fernando Alonso’s judgment, however, was even sharper. The two-time world champion warned that the new regulations could flatten driving choices. He explained that conserving energy for the straights now takes priority, often at the expense of cornering speed.
“Here in Bahrain, in turn 12 we are 50 kilometres per hour slower than before, just to save energy for the straights. Even our chef in the kitchen could drive these cars,” the former Ferrari and McLaren driver said.
Fernando Alonso expanded on this concept in an interview with Sky Sport F1. “The new cars are different, and all this energy management definitely takes away some of the challenge for the driver. I think the cars from the late 1990s and early 2000s were the best to drive. They were light, you felt the sound of Formula 1, and you could find time by taking a bit more risk.”
According to Fernando Alonso, the current philosophy leads to behavior opposite to the past. “Now we put all the energy into the straights and don’t waste it in corners, so in the corners we go slow. But that means we no longer take risks.”
His words reflect a concern shared by several veteran drivers. The new technical era rewards efficiency and strategic energy management, but it remains to be seen whether this balance between electric and combustion power will make races more spectacular, or if it will limit the instinct and bravery that have long defined Formula 1.
Fernando Alonso’s “chef” analogy shows once again that for the purists on the grid, Formula 1 should always be a physical and technical challenge at the absolute limit of human capability. While the FIA remains focused on the sustainability and hybrid efficiency of the 2026 era, the growing chorus of disgruntled champions suggests that the sport may need to find a way to reintroduce the “risk” that the Spaniard feels has been sacrificed at the altar of energy management.
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