Lando Norris blasts current F1 rules after Japan GP: “Action must be taken”. Lando Norris has voiced strong criticism of the current Formula 1 regulations after the Japanese GP.

Lando Norris has returned to speak about the current regulations that are drawing widespread criticism. While at the beginning it was only Max Verstappen who voiced concerns, the Dutch driver has quickly become the spokesperson for a wider group of drivers who are visibly frustrated behind the wheel of the new cars. One of them is reigning world champion Lando Norris, who, speaking about the Japanese Grand Prix, explained which corners proved to be the most difficult to tackle:

“There are better and worse tracks, and improvements have been made, but we can still do better,” he admitted. “We just want to push flat out, I don’t want to slow down and lose 60 km/h in the 130R corner [at Suzuka] on the final corner.”

The spectacle has also suffered as a result. Many fans are against the new regulations, which were introduced to create a very different kind of racing experience. So far, however, the expected outcome has not materialised, with Norris highlighting the difficulty drivers face in handling these new single-seaters, over which they do not have full control:

“Most other categories will have a higher top speed than us, so there are aspects that can be improved. The FIA knows this and I hope they will act on it. Racing may look spectacular on TV, but the reality inside the cockpit is certainly not as authentic as it should be.”

“The main problem [at Suzuka] was especially in 130R, where I had to lift off the throttle, and I was not allowed to get back on the power. If I did, the battery would have kicked in and I didn’t want that. I can’t do anything about it, driver control is practically non-existent; that is why we are at the mercy of the regulation,” he concluded.

Lando Norris’s blunt assessment highlights a growing disconnect between the technical ambitions of the 2026 era and the visceral reality of driving a Formula 1 car. By describing himself as being “at the mercy” of the rules, the world champion is signaling that the sport risks losing the very “flat-out” nature that defines its prestige. If the pinnacle of motorsport is being outpaced on the straights by junior categories, or if legendary corners like the 130R require lift-and-coast management rather than bravery, the FIA may need to fast-track adjustments. As the season progresses toward Miami, the pressure is mounting on regulators to ensure that the driver remains the most decisive element in the cockpit, rather than a complex energy management algorithm.