Last week, F1 teams and drivers began exploring the 2026 cars during the Barcelona shakedown. Lewis Hamilton set the fastest time for Ferrari, while nearly all teams demonstrated solid reliability in this first winter testing session. Although it’s unclear how aggressively drivers pushed their cars at Montmeló, Haas driver Esteban Ocon revealed that he had to use the ‘lift and coast’ technique even during qualifying simulations.
“We have to drive using ‘lift and coast’ even in qualifying,” Esteban Ocon told German outlet Auto Motor und Sport. “At first it felt strange, but we had already practiced it in the simulator. After one lap, I was used to it. Now it feels odd not to do it. We use lift and coast so often that you adapt quickly. It’s not that bad – if I kept the throttle flat out, I’d end up braking excessively on the next straight. Sometimes, it even feels faster to slightly lift before the usual point. As drivers, we always need to optimize our tools to go as fast as possible. If this is the fastest way, we’ll do it.
Esteban Ocon’s insights hint at how energy management strategies could play a bigger role even in single-lap performance for the 2026 F1 cars, emphasizing the technical adjustments drivers must make in the new era.
Esteban Ocon’s revelations from the Barcelona shakedown underscore the significant learning curve facing the grid as they adapt to the energy-dependent nature of the 2026 technical regulations. By admitting that “lift and coast” is now a prerequisite even for qualifying simulations, Ocon has highlighted a fundamental shift where pure mechanical aggression is being traded for sophisticated electrical harvesting and deployment strategies. While the idea of lifting off during a hot lap might seem counterintuitive to fans of traditional “flat-out” racing, the drivers who master this delicate balance of energy conservation will likely be the ones standing on the podium in Melbourne.
Esteban Ocon’s comments suggest that the 2026 season will reward the most adaptable drivers, as the Haas man confirms that the fastest way around a circuit now involves a calculated “lift” rather than a heavy right foot.
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