Sim provides F1 drivers with an early experience of the 2026 vehicles.
"If you perform well next year, we will enjoy the cars."
The 2026 revolution in F1 is drawing nearer, and initial feedback from the simulator has already sparked differing views. Recently, Lance Stroll from Aston Martin criticized the new regulations after testing the 2026-spec Newey-designed car in the simulator, while his teammate Fernando Alonso advised caution in forming opinions.
"I only spent one day in the simulator, which made it hard to reach any conclusions," Alonso commented in Hungary. "Indeed, it seems to have less performance than this year's model. As racing drivers, we typically dislike slower setups, but then we hop onto a rental kart with 12 horsepower and have a blast. If next year brings speed, we will enjoy the cars."
The new regulations introduce significantly different power units and aerodynamic goals, with teams currently balancing development for 2025 against potential advantages for the future. At Sauber, which will become the Audi works team in 2026, Nico Hulkenberg acknowledged that there isn’t much left to enhance on this year’s car. "I don’t believe we or the others will progress much further, so we must work with the current package," Hulkenberg stated. "Performance will still vary based on the circuit."
He has yet to test the 2026 car in the simulator. "We’re just not prepared. If it doesn’t accurately reflect reality, it can create a misleading impression, which is useless."
Carlos Sainz at Williams emphasized that his move from Ferrari was always focused on a long-term perspective. "I didn’t come here for the results in 2025," he told Marca. "I came for the potential in 2026, 2027, and 2028. The more time I spend with the team, the clearer things become." Still, he observed some early peculiarities with the 2026 design: "The simulator doesn’t always provide accurate information. One issue is power—it cuts out on the straight—and another is the inconsistency from one lap to the next."
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