Stroll says 2026 F1 cars “not very racy” and fellow drivers agree

Speaking to RaceFans during the British Grand Prix weekend, Stroll said: “It’s just a bit of a shame—Formula 1’s just taking that path of electric energy, and we’ve had to shed all the downforce off the cars to support the battery power.

"It should be fun to see some light, nimble, fast cars with a lot of downforce and just simplify the whole thing a little bit. Less so of an energy, battery, championship science project and more of just a Formula 1 racing championship," ventured the Canadian.

The 2026 regulations will see power units produce nearly half of their output electrically, alongside an adjustable aerodynamic system that alters drag levels depending on speed. The FIA has described the concept as “nimble”, but concerns persist over weight targets and the technical complexity required to optimise performance.

Stroll, who has already tested Aston Martin’s simulator model of the 2026 car, said the energy management required could overpower the racing spectacle: “It’s exciting to think about cars that can scream a little bit louder, be a bit lighter, and not depend and focus so much on that energy, battery powertrain that’s not very racy."

Stroll also suggested most drivers agree with his views but are reluctant to speak out publicly. “I think a lot of the drivers can agree on that. Maybe some of them can’t talk about it for political reasons."

While he accepted that competitiveness would still come down to who adapts best, Stroll admitted: “I’m not a fan of the direction. But if we have a fast car and we’re competitive and we are doing better than everyone else, that’s when you’ve got nothing to complain about.”

Max Verstappen and others have raised similar concerns about how energy regeneration and deployment could dominate next year’s racing. Stroll echoed that sentiment: “I don’t know if that’s racing. But it’s going to be the same for everyone next year and it’s all going to be about who can do that best. I’m sure whoever’s doing that best is going to love the new regs.”