Gasly was taken aback that the 'top 4 are still leading' even after the rule changes.

      Pierre Gasly expressed his astonishment that the established top teams continue to dominate Formula 1 despite the major rule changes coming in 2026. In an interview with AFP, the Alpine driver remarked that pre-season testing indicates that the same four teams - Mercedes, Ferrari, Red Bull, and McLaren - are still leading the pack. "We’ll know more about the order after three or four races," Gasly noted, "but it’s quite surprising to see these four teams still at the forefront, especially since they have the least wind tunnel time."

      Since 2021, the Aerodynamic Test Restriction (ATR) system in Formula 1 has granted lower-ranked teams considerably more wind tunnel time in an attempt to level the playing field. "There are some questions to ponder," Gasly added. "It’s surprising that they’re performing better with nearly 50 percent less time. If they had equivalent time as everyone else, what would that imply - being three seconds ahead?"

      After finishing last in the constructors' championship in 2025, Alpine switched from Renault to Mercedes power this season and started focusing on its 2026 car early on. Gasly believes the team has made progress but admits the competitive landscape still appears to be split. "It’s an improvement from last year, but it’s too soon to determine the exact order," he said. "At the moment, it feels like there are two separate championships. The gap between the leading teams and the rest is quite considerable. We seem to be somewhere in the middle."

      Like several other drivers, Gasly mentioned that the new cars feel different to drive. "When you navigate a corner at 250 km/h last year and now at 220, the sensation isn’t the same," he explained. "It’s not necessarily a negative change - it just presents a different challenge. Driving the car remains extremely thrilling. The only aspect that’s harder to accept is the entire electric component, which significantly affects performance and demands much more management than before."

      Former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher is also taken aback by the sport's response to the new regulations. "What surprises me the most is that with all the brilliant minds and simulations, it’s only now that people are grasping how complex these issues are," he stated. "This is beneficial for journalists but not for Formula 1."

      Schumacher expressed understanding for drivers who voice concerns about the strong focus on energy management. "I concur with Max Verstappen that there is far too much calculation required with electric energy," he said. "Overall performance has decreased significantly, and the cars are much heavier. Formula 1 has simply become too intricate."

      Nonetheless, he is skeptical about any imminent changes to the rules - although he believes F1’s next steps could be intriguing. "Plan B might only imply a return to standard combustion engines using synthetic fuels by 2030," Schumacher said. "Formula 1 should once again be viewed as a gladiatorial sport - not primarily through the lens of sustainability."