Fernando Alonso hopes his Aston Martin team-mate Lance Stroll will end up enjoying the F1 2026 season.<\/p>\n
Stroll has made his concerns known about the huge regulatory revamp coming for next season, but Alonso<\/a> wants more experience with the new ruleset first before he casts a firm judgement.<\/p>\n Fernando Alonso hopes \u2018Lance Stroll can enjoy\u2019 F1 2026<\/p>\n Additional reporting by Thomas Maher<\/p>\n The current set of Formula 1 regulations are into their final year, as major change is on the way.<\/p>\n For F1 2026, the cars will become smaller and 30KG lighter. The drag reduction system [DRS] meanwhile will be scrapped, as Formula 1 embraces active aerodynamics. The Pirelli tyres will get 25 millimeters narrower at the front and 30mm at the rear.<\/p>\n The revamp also extends to the engines. From F1 2026, the cars will be fitted with engines which utilise a 50\/50 split between electrical and internal combustion power. Fully sustainable biofuel will be used in the internal combustion engine.<\/p>\n Aston Martin driver Lance Stroll is not particularly excited by the new rules based on his experiences in the simulator.<\/p>\n Asked by the media, including PlanetF1.com at the Belgian Grand Prix, whether he had done any testing of the 2026 car in the sim yet, Stroll replied: \u201cI did a bit, yeah. It\u2019s definitely less downforce. Fast in a straight line.\u201d<\/p>\n Asked if it would be challenging for the drivers, Stroll added: \u201cDifferent kind of challenge, right? Physically a lot less demanding, because just less G force.<\/p>\n \u201cBut of course, a challenge for the teams, like every new set of regulations, with the increased battery power, the set of engine regulations, and then the different aerodynamic regulations. That\u2019s going to be a challenge for the teams, who\u2019s going to get it right, who\u2019s going to get it wrong.<\/p>\n \u201cBut for us drivers, for sure, I think these kinds of tracks, Spa, Suzuka, you know, high speed, less downforce, it\u2019s not going to be as exciting as what it is now. That\u2019s just a fact until maybe a couple of years into the regs or whatever, I don\u2019t know.<\/p>\n \u201cBut, it\u2019s going to be a hit in downforce, and we\u2019re going to be sliding around more than what we are now.\u201d<\/p>\n Quizzed on whether this means we can expect 20 unhappy drivers at the F1 2026 season-opener in Melbourne, Stroll quipped: \u201cNot whoever has the fastest car winning the race. I\u2019m sure that driver will be very happy with the regulation change!\u201d<\/p>\n He added: \u201cWe all feel, I think, that it\u2019s not very exciting, and it\u2019s not the direction we want to go as racing drivers. But it\u2019s a relative game.\u201d<\/p>\n Alonso was quizzed on his team-mate\u2019s comments at the following round in Hungary.<\/p>\n The two-time World Champion opted to reserve firm judgement for when he has greater experience with the incoming regulations, but hopes the end result will leave Stroll with a higher opinion.<\/p>\n How F1 2026 is shaping up<\/p>\n \ud83d\udc49 F1 2026 driver line-up: Who is already confirmed for the 2026 grid?<\/a><\/p>\n