Liam Lawson chimes in as F1 drivers divided over new ‘Mario Kart’ cars

Formula One’s new era of cars has barely hit the track, and the paddock is already split down the middle.

The 2026 regulations shift the sport toward a near 50-50 split between combustion engines and hybrid power, with energy harvesting and deployment playing a much bigger role in races. 

That shift has left some drivers frustrated, saying the racing now revolves around battery management rather than pure pace.

Kiwi driver Liam Lawson is one of the latest to question the way the racing plays out. 

The 24-year-old believes it’s about “who's got more energy, who's out of energy. Somebody uses the energy, and then on the next straight, they have no energy, and they get overtaken again.”

It's not racing that I'm used to. 

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen has been even more blunt after retiring from the Chinese Grand Prix following an energy recovery system failure.

He described it as “not fun at all”, likening it to “playing Mario Kart”. 

“This is not racing. Look at the racing. You are boosting past, then you run out of battery the next straight. They boost past you again. For me, it’s just a joke,” Verstappen said in Shanghai.

“I don’t know, if someone likes this, then you really don’t know what racing is about.” 

Other drivers have echoed similar concerns. Gabriel Bortoleto said he’s pulled off overtakes simply because the car ahead ran out of energy. At the same time, Carlos Sainz warned that the feeling behind the wheel isn’t ideal and suggested the situation could eventually lead to a serious accident.

But not everyone is on the same page. 

Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, who finished third in China, reckons it’s a positive change. 

“It was the best racing I’ve ever experienced in Formula One. The cars are easier to follow, much better than in past years. You can get very close, there’s not a bad wake where you’re losing too much downforce.”

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff also pushed back on the criticism, suggesting Verstappen’s frustrations are due to the Red Bull team and cars, not F1 in general. 

“Max is really, I think, in a horror show… When you look at the onboard he has in qualifying, this is just horrendous to drive,” Wolff said. 

He also argues that the racing has actually improved. 

“I believe what we’ve seen between Ferrari and Mercedes was good racing, many overtakes… Sometimes we’re too nostalgic about the good old years, but the product is good in itself.”

Formula One president Stefano Domenicali has defended the direction of the sport and urged patience while teams and drivers adapt. 

Behind the scenes, teams are expected to raise their concerns with FIA single-seater director Nikolas Tombazis this week, although no regulation changes are expected before the Japanese Grand Prix.

For now, the grid stays divided, and the debate is well and truly underway.