![\"Australia\u2019s](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/f9ce094ff82f18ca50d95eb50a2856ad0a4366d2.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n\u201cThe thing is, everyone\u2019s going to need different things for the start, and to be completely honest with you, I\u2019m not sure any of us know exactly what we need yet.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s so many things just from an even borderline safety point of view that need to be kind of figured out on track, that do need addressing.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Australia\u2019s star F1 driver Oscar Piastri.Credit: AP<\/p>\n
The F1 rules overall this week copped criticism from Max Verstappen who said the new regulations could hasten his departure from the sport because the 2026 cars are \u201cnot fun to drive\u201d, \u201canti-racing\u201d and \u201cFormula E on steroids\u201d.<\/p>\n
In an astonishing attack after two days of pre-season testing, Red Bull\u2019s four-time world champion did not hold back on his assessment.<\/p>\n
The 2026 cars will be powered 50-50 between internal combustion engine and battery which will require drivers to \u201cmanage\u201d the deployment of power at their disposal, backing off and recharging their batteries regularly so that they can then use the energy \u201cboost mode\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot a lot of fun to be honest,\u201d Verstappen said. \u201cI would say the right word is \u2018management\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cOn the other hand, I also know how much work has been going on in the background, also from the engine side, from the guys, so it\u2019s not always the nicest thing to say. But I also want to be [honest]. As a driver the feeling is not very \u2018Formula 1-like\u2019. It feels a bit more like Formula E on steroids.\u201d<\/p>\n
On Friday Piastri was talking to reporters after the drivers went through a practice start in Bahrain, which turned into a fairly chaotic exercise, but he said that wasn\u2019t connected to the new engines but to a miscommunication.<\/p>\n
The Australian had failed to get away in his McLaren but explained: \u201cI got told to wait until whoever was in front of me had gone and then do my own launch, and not do it to the lights.<\/p>\n
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\u201cClearly, some other people had a different idea. So that was nothing to do with the power units.\u201d<\/p>\n
As for his verdict on which teams looked most powerful over the week \u2013 McLaren, Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari all seemed their usual powerhouse selves \u2013 he shrugged: \u201cWhere we are in the pecking order, I don\u2019t know.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt kind of looks like the top-four teams are still the top-four teams, but I don\u2019t know where exactly we sit in that at the moment.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mercedes\u2019 George Russell, second-quickest on Friday ahead of Ferrari\u2019s third-fastest Lewis Hamilton, was still adamant Red Bull had a \u201cpretty scary\u201d advantage over the rest as Max Verstappen finished fifth on the timesheets.<\/p>\n
Red Bull, in turn, reckoned Mercedes looked impressive as the pre-Melbourne mind games started to get into gear.<\/p>\n
AAP, with theage.com.au<\/p>\n