George Russell reassures fans about the safety of 2026 Formula 1 cars. Mercedes driver George Russell has addressed concerns about the safety of the 2026 Formula 1 cars.

Mercedes driver George Russell has moved to reassure fans and the media about the safety of the 2026 Formula 1 cars, addressing concerns that emerged regarding the new single-seaters.

Concerns over 2026 car safety

There had been fears that this year’s cars might introduce elements making them more dangerous than the 2025 models, particularly due to the approach speeds between two cars. The new power units remain turbo-hybrid, but with a 50/50 split of power between the internal combustion engine and the electric component. Consequently, when battery energy runs low, speed differences could become significant, creating potentially risky situations between cars in energy recovery and those at full power.

No issues for Russell

Russell addressed these concerns directly, rejecting any doubts about safety:

“There will be some examples of high closing speeds, but I don’t think it will be a problem in dry conditions,” he explained to the media. “If you’re driving in the wet, you approach the corner much slower and braking distances are longer, so you’re harvesting much more and spending much less energy. It won’t be a problem even with low visibility, because that just means you’re driving in the wet. So, over the course of a lap, you’ll have much more energy to spend and there will be fewer drop-offs, so to speak. Energy shouldn’t run out like it does in dry conditions.”

Comparison with 2025 cars

The Mercedes driver also noted that following another car is easier this year compared to 2025, suggesting that last year’s cars were too large:

“Following another car feels definitely easier, especially in high-speed corners, first of all because there is less aerodynamic load and the corners are taken more slowly. Naturally, there’s less weight, and while it was amazing to experience those extremely high speeds in the fast corners, I think these cars are more enjoyable to drive through those corners. They simply feel a bit more like a proper race car, a bit lighter, whereas the old cars were too large and felt a bit like a bus in those turns.”

Russell’s comments highlight that despite the changes in hybrid power and aerodynamics, the 2026 Formula 1 cars are expected to remain safe and manageable in both dry and wet conditions, while offering improved drivability compared to their 2025 predecessors.