Oscar Piastri has called for a fine-tuning of some of the intricacies of next year’s new Formula 1 regulations, in order to produce “the best show” for fans.
The Australian is one of several drivers now beginning to be questioned on the subject of the 2026 rules, which threaten to shake up F1 for the first time since 2014.
Outlawing and replacing DRS, the reduction of ground effect, and the new equality between internal combustion and electric power are just some of its cornerstones.
There have been a mixture of opinions given on the subject, from Charles Leclerc’s original scepticism, to Lewis Hamilton’s ‘fascination’.
Williams James Vowles recently called for some revisions on some areas, saying the drivers will be handed a “very difficult” workload.
Piastri, speaking ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix prior to the current summer break, hinted there are some anomalies in areas that need ironing out.
“I drove it quite recently. I think there’s still a lot of things to find out before we go racing next year,” he told media including Motorsport Week.
“I think there’s still a lot of development ongoing, so I don’t want to comment too much on it.
“But it will certainly be very different from what we have now and what most of us have probably ever driven. But some things will be similar still.”
Piastri indicated that the FIA have been cooperative in conversations about such problems, and said the teams across the grid are working well together to solve them.
“I think there are definitely things that need to be addressed, which the FIA has been very receptive to,” he added.
“I think we’re collaborating well between the teams, and it depends on how we ultimately put on the best show for next year.”
Piastri says 2026 F1 cars ‘different in a lot of ways’
Piastri did not get drawn into the finer details of how the cars are from a driveability point of view, but revealed that it will largely be a removal of the current machines.
“I don’t know if it’s necessarily tricky, it’s just different in a lot of ways,” he admitted.
“Yes, I think there are definitely things that I think as a sport we can fine-tune a bit before we go racing, but I think it will mainly be different than what we have now.
“I think it is still capable of putting on a very entertaining sport and a competitive sport, but I think it will look quite different.”
On the topic of a driver’s approach to the new cars, Piastri sided with Hamilton’s take that it should be a challenge relished by the 22 drivers who will line up next year.
“Yes, I definitely agree with that,” the McLaren driver said.
“I think at the moment there are some challenges that aren’t necessary and won’t add to the competition or the spectacle that I do think need to be changed.
“I fully agree. I think there’s going to be a lot of challenges that come with that, and a lot of them are going to be exciting and points of difference and points where you can have an advantage or a disadvantage.
“But I think there are some things that need to be changed that don’t constitute a benefit for anybody.”
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