The 2026 Formula 1 season began with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne last weekend. However, the reactions to the brand new regulations in play have been anything but favorable. Drivers as well as fans are frustrated with the new car and its half-ICE-half-electric powertrain.
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That change hampered car performance. Some teams have yet to figure out how to eke the best out of the car, and in the opening race of the season, drivers were mostly involved in energy management, rather than pushing their cars.
NASCAR icon Kevin Harvick pitched in with his thoughts about the race and the changes in F1. He was with Will Buxton on the recent episode of SPEED when he candidly spoke about the “awkward” race in Australia.
“It was one of the most awkward races that I’ve ever watched. And when you see a start like that that has so many cars that are at different speeds. I heard one of the drivers refer to it as Mario Kart. That’s kind of what it looked like. It kind of looked like Mario Kart,” said Harvick.
What Harvick, or any motorsport lover for that matter, wants to see when he turns on an F1 race is who has the fastest car and who can go through the straightaways and the corners the fastest. He wants to witness quick pitstops and extraordinary strategies.
The new regulations have definitely mixed things up. Harvick also believes that the new car is overengineered to an extent that teams aren’t able to figure out what the best approach is.
Harvick is only too well-versed in the challenges that a new car can produce. He spoke about the time when NASCAR introduced the Next Gen in 2022. He pointed out how the promotion is finally addressing some key weaknesses in it, four seasons down the road.
What caused the “awkwardness” at the Australian GP?
It takes a certain period of time for the teams to adjust to whatever new regulations are introduced, whether it be NASCAR or Formula 1. And the changes that F1 has introduced this season are massive.
It has shifted to a 50/50 power split between the internal combustion engine and electric, making energy harvesting during the race very important. Cars will be recharging when they brake and when they are on part-throttle to support the new “overtake mode.”
The overtake mode is a replacement of the DRS system and allows drivers to deploy the stored electrical energy to make passes. Cars will also be using an active aerodynamics system to compensate for the higher energy and speed in play.
Following the Australian GP, which Mercedes’ George Russell won, drivers noted that their batteries drain fairly quickly. This forces them to be strategic and conscious about energy usage.
