Nico Rosberg evaluated the new Formula 1 rules for 2026 and stated that the positives outweigh the initial criticisms. The former driver and 2016 category champion highlighted that despite the divided reactions, more intense battles between teams could compensate for any problems.
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The changes introduced this season brought a significant overhaul of the technical regulations. Among the main innovations are the 50/50 split between combustion engine and electric power, in addition to the replacement of DRS with active aerodynamics.
With the increased importance of electric energy, factors such as battery usage, management, and recharging have taken a central role in the races. Although overtaking and battles have become more frequent compared to 2025, the changes have also generated criticism from different sectors of Formula 1.
Rosberg acknowledged that some situations might seem strange from the public’s point of view. The German cited as an example the behavior of the cars on straights after high-speed corners, when electric power is reduced: “There is a lot of criticism at the moment because you can see, like in the last race, at the Japanese GP, they go through the straight after a flat-out corner and have to downshift after the corner, still on the straight, because the battery energy cuts out,” he stated.
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The former driver highlighted that this type of situation can cause confusion for those following the races: “From a spectator’s point of view, it might look a bit strange when you should be accelerating to the maximum with the best-performing Formula 1 car,” he added.
Despite this, he showed optimism about the overall impact of the changes. For Rosberg, the quality of the battles will be decisive for the fans’ acceptance of the new rules: “Even so, I see it calmly. From my point of view, as long as there are great battles between the teams, that is the most important thing. If we have a really good fight between Mercedes, McLaren and Ferrari, I think the fans won’t care about the 50/50 split and the technology,” he added.
With only three GPs held so far under the new regulations, the debate remains open within Formula 1. While criticisms persist, the expectation is that the balance between technological innovation and race quality will determine the definitive perception of the category’s new era.
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