{"id":525784,"date":"2026-03-08T01:34:11","date_gmt":"2026-03-08T01:34:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/525784\/"},"modified":"2026-03-08T01:34:11","modified_gmt":"2026-03-08T01:34:11","slug":"lando-norris-launches-frustrated-attack-on-new-formula-one-regulations-it-sucks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/525784\/","title":{"rendered":"Lando Norris launches frustrated attack on new Formula One regulations: \u2018It sucks\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

Reigning world champion Lando Norris has launched a scathing attack on Formula One\u2019s<\/a> new regulations, declaring that they \u201csuck\u201d and the 2026 cars are the \u201cworst\u201d in history.<\/p>\n

The sport\u2019s biggest regulations overhaul looms as the key issue for Sunday\u2019s season-opening grand prix in Melbourne, with reliability also likely to be a big issue.<\/p>\n

Under the new regulations almost 50 per cent of a car\u2019s power unit is a battery, which drains unless drivers recharge it while braking or by lifting off the throttle.<\/p>\n

Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Arrow<\/a><\/p>\n

That has created a particular issue at Albert Park, with drivers needing to lift on the long sweeping back straight given there are minimal twisty sections of the track.<\/p>\n

George Russell\u2019s pole time of 1:18.518 was 3.422 seconds slower than Norris\u2019 last year, despite the two sessions both being held in dry conditions.<\/p>\n

\"LandoLando Norris smiled for the fans but he’s far from happy with the new Formula One cars. Credit: AAP<\/p>\n

Russell\u2019s teammate Kimi Antonelli helped secure a front-row lockout for Mercedes in second, with the silver arrows far quicker than Red Bull\u2019s Isack Hadjar in third and Ferrari\u2019s Charles Leclerc in fourth.<\/p>\n

Australian Oscar Piastri will have to start from fifth, as part of an all-McLaren third row with Norris sixth, while Max Verstappen has been cleared to compete from 20th on the grid by F1 medics after X-rays on his hands following his qualifying crash.<\/p>\n

But defending champion Norris made no secret of his frustration over the current regulations, and where he fears they have left the sport.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve come from the best cars ever made in Formula One, and the nicest to drive, to probably the worst. It sucks,\u201d Norris said.<\/p>\n

\u201cEveryone knows what the issues are. It\u2019s just the fact the engine is a 50-50 split and it just doesn\u2019t work.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou decelerate so much before corners, you have to lift everywhere to make sure the battery pack is at the top level.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut if the pack\u2019s too high, you\u2019re also screwed. It\u2019s just difficult.\u201d<\/p>\n

Norris also blamed needing to watch his steering wheel to monitor speed for damaging his front wing when he ran over a cooling fan that fell off Antonelli\u2019s car.<\/p>\n

The British champion also suggested 20 of the 22 drivers on the grid had complained about the situation in a meeting on Friday.<\/p>\n

McLaren boss Zak Brown has already suggested that some rules may need changing after Sunday\u2019s race, if they prove to provide a poor spectacle for viewers.<\/p>\n

Piastri was more reserved in his views around the new regulations after qualifying on Saturday, but noted the car was down 450 horsepower on some corners compared to last year.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think everyone can see the state of things,\u201d the Australian said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it will probably improve a bit but there is clearly some fundamental things that won\u2019t be very easy to fix. I don\u2019t really know what we do about that.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt will be better at different tracks. We will have different challenges at other tracks.\u201d<\/p>\n

Piastri\u2019s fifth-place start will leave him needing to become the first driver in 12 years at Albert Park to come from outside the first three on the grid to win.<\/p>\n

With Mercedes looking likely to sprint off into the distance, Piastri\u2019s best hope may be becoming the first Australian to be classified on the podium at home since the race became part of the F1 championship in 1985.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Sarcastic Verstappen crashes out on first lap in qualifying: \u2018Fantastic\u2019<\/p>\n

3 min read<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

McLaren boss addresses Oscar Piastri \u2018conspiracy theory\u2019<\/p>\n

2 min read<\/p>\n

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