Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton has defended Formula 1’s evolving regulations, calling the racing “more fun” than it’s been in years ahead of the 2026 Japanese GP.
Hamilton enjoying “back-and-forth” racing in 2026
Now three races into the season, Hamilton reflected on the style of racing created by the new regulations, admitting that he’s been enjoying the close “back-and-forth” battles so far and pushing back at growing suggestions that the sport has taken a turn toward artificiality.
The 2026 regulations, which put far greater emphasis on battery deployment, have received mixed reactions among drivers. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen has been one of the most vocal opponents of the current regulations.
However, Hamilton, who recently claimed his first podium as a Ferrari driver in Shanghai, has taken a different view.
“If you go back to karting, it’s the same thing,” Hamilton told the media ahead of 2026 Japanese GP. “People going back and forth, you can never pull away. No one ever has ever referred to go-karting as yo-yo racing. It’s the best form of racing.
“And Formula 1 has not been the best form of racing in a long time. You finally have a car…out of all the cars that I’ve driven in 20 years, this is the only car you can follow through high speed and not completely lose everything you have. You can stay behind. We had the DRS before, which I think was a bit of a band-aid for that issue, that we can’t be close enough.”
On having “much more fun” in new-gen cars
For Hamilton, this ability to follow rival cars throughout a stint has rekindled something he believes F1 had been missing.
“Okay, now we have the power difference, but it’s so small, the power difference,” he explained.
“When you get ahead, the cars behind, they can keep up with you. I personally find it much more fun, because that’s the most overtaking and best battle I’ve had, probably since Bahrain years and years ago with Nico [Rosberg].
“That’s how racing should be. It should be back and forth, back and forth. It shouldn’t be like one move is done and that’s it. I personally like that sort of racing.”
Hamilton added that excitement would be amplified if other teams caught up to the frontrunners, saying: “We just need all the rest of the teams to close up so we have more of those battles amongst us all.”
Hamilton and Verstappen offer starkly different takes on 2026 regulations
While Hamilton has embraced the new racing dynamic, not all of his fellow drivers are convinced. Verstappen, in particular, has likened racing under the 2026 regulations to “Mario Kart,” suggesting the battles are too dependent on boosts and battery levels.
Hamilton conceded that “love” is too strong a word to describe his feelings for the current regulations, but reiterated that he has been enjoying the racing so far.
“I don’t know if you can use the word love. I’m just saying I enjoy the racing,” Hamilton said.
“Naturally, when you have a good car and you’re competitive, it’s nice to be in the front. [Verstappen’s] had that for the last four or five years. So it’s been pretty smooth sailing for him, and this is the first year it’s not been.”
Hamilton stopped short of speculating on Verstappen’s mindset, explaining that the design of the new cars has contributed to his own enjoyment of racing.
“I can’t answer that, why he’s not enjoying it as much,” he said.
“It’s definitely a lot different. Some drivers… I think a lot of drivers are not enjoying it. But I don’t really know. I’m just personally enjoying it. It’s a lighter car. They’re more nimble. They are more fun to drive.”
“It’s a good time” for the sport, Hamilton says
Speaking ahead of the Japanese GP, Hamilton explained that, for him, the pros of the 2026 regulations currently outweigh the cons.
“Do I love the power deployment? Absolutely not,” he said. “I actually really dislike it. Do I love the straight-line mode? Not particularly.
“But as a whole I think it’s exciting for the sport, in a time where the sport is the highest… Brand-wise, and it has the most income it’s ever had. The F1 movie has done amazingly, it got an Oscar. It’s just a really good time where lots of people are watching, and we’re actually having some battles, as opposed to processions, where you’re just watching cars pull each other around each time.
“Everybody’s going to have an opinion. Every time we change the car, some people will love it. You can’t please everybody.”
Hamilton acknowledged that individual enjoyment often correlates with car performance. As it stands, Ferrari has emerged as the second force behind Mercedes, which seems to have helped Hamilton bounce back somewhat after a difficult and win-less maiden season with Ferrari in 2025.
“If our car all of a sudden turns to a nightmare to drive, maybe it won’t be as enjoyable,” he continued. “But the fact is, we’re having a good fight, we’re in with a chance to fight for wins.
“When you’re not in the position to—and because you’ve been here a long time, you can see that that’s highly unlikely in the year—it’s very hard to stay motivated. But that’s where you just have to continue to try and dig.
“I was trying to do that last year, even though we knew that we weren’t developing, and we had no chance of really winning, and it’s tough for everybody within the team. That’s part of the sport, I guess.”
