Jacques Villeneuve says pure racers would've hated 2026 Formula 1 regulations

While we have witnessed some racing and overtaking early on in races in what is now labeled "Yo-Yo racing" since drivers exchange positions based on battery charge, that has been slammed by many, both drivers and pundits, as artificial, which is worse than the days we had DRS.

Speaking to Sky Sports Germany over the Chinese Grand Prix weekend, Villeneuve said: "It's different racing, but it's fun. So what do you want? You want a good show? We're having a good show.

Villeneuve was speaking alongside fellow former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher and was quickly keen to clarify what he said so as to not appear to like the new regulations.

"Hold on. Hold on," he went on. "If you asked a pure racer, like when we were racing, I think we both [he and Ralf Schumacher] would have hated it.

"We got into racing, and it was rough and tough, and this is different. It's a different skill set. You still see the better ones at the front.

"It's been fun because it's new, so we don't know what to expect. But if we have 10 races of exactly the same thing, at some point it will become redundant.

"The difference when they deploy the energy or not is huge. Right now, it's fun. Let's see how it evolves," the Canadian maintained.

Schumacher, on the other hand, admitted he wasn't a fan of the new formula despite being briefly excited in the opening race in Melbourne.

He said: "Well, I have to say when I saw the first few laps in Melbourne, I thought it's exciting. It's a bit like motorcycle races overtaking.

"But then looking back and looking at the race after, I thought it's a bit too much. It's too artificial," he pointed out. "So we need to make sure Formula 1 is still the pinnacle of sport and where the driver makes the biggest difference.

"And yes, at the same time, we need to make sure overtaking is there and makes it more exciting. At the moment, I think the balance isn't right.

"But what has changed to me in Formula 1 is everybody seems to be aware of it, and everybody's working together and willing to change something, and that's the most important," Schumacher concluded.

Schumacher has recently warned four-time F1 Champion Max Verstappen, a vocal critic of the 2026 regulations, to share his criticism behind closed doors.