{"id":474564,"date":"2026-02-14T13:50:42","date_gmt":"2026-02-14T13:50:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/474564\/"},"modified":"2026-02-14T13:50:42","modified_gmt":"2026-02-14T13:50:42","slug":"why-high-speed-corners-are-50km-h-slower-with-2026-f1-cars-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/474564\/","title":{"rendered":"Why high-speed corners are \u201c50km\/h slower\u201d with 2026 F1 cars"},"content":{"rendered":"

Fernando Alonso<\/a> says Formula 1 drivers now have to drive 50km\/h slower in high-speed corners to get the most out of the 2026 cars.<\/p>\n

Meeting brand-new chassis and engine regulations, F1 machinery now features a much greater electric element, which has made energy management preponderant in terms of driving.<\/p>\n

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F1 racers now need to harvest as much energy as possible under deceleration to deploy it at the most opportune moment, but there is little time to gain by deploying extra power in high-speed corners, relative to long straights.<\/p>\n

As Alonso spoke to the press in Bahrain on Friday afternoon, Max Verstappen<\/a>\u2019s latest comments were put to him, with the four-time world champion branding F1\u2019s 2026 cars as \u201cFormula E on steroids\u201d on Thursday.<\/p>\n

Read Also:<\/p>\n

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

Max Verstappen demolishes “anti-racing” and “not fun” 2026 F1 cars <\/a><\/p>\n

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Alonso didn\u2019t quite disagree, though he insisted one should wait for the first couple of grands prix before drawing conclusions; the Aston Martin driver used the Sakhir circuit\u2019s Turn 12 as a meaningful example \u2013 a right-hander which theoretically is the track\u2019s fastest curve.<\/p>\n

\u201cHere in Bahrain, Turn 12 has historically been a very challenging corner,\u201d the Spanish veteran explained. \u201cSo you used to choose your downforce level to go Turn 12 just flat. So you remove downforce until you are in Turn 12 just flat with new tyres and then in the race. So driver skill was decisive factor to go fast in a lap time.<\/p>\n

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing\"Fernando<\/p>\n

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing<\/p>\n

\u201cNow in Turn 12 we are like 50km\/h slower because we don’t want to waste energy there and we want to have all on the straights. So to do Turn 12 instead of 260km\/h at 200km\/h, you can drive the car \u2013 the chef can drive the car in Turn 12 at that speed. But you don’t want to waste energy because you want to have it on the straights.<\/p>\n

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\u201cSo I understand Max’s comments, because from a driver [point of view] you would like to make the difference in the corner driving those 5km\/h faster, but now you are dictated by how much energy your engine will have on the next straight.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut at the same time this is Formula 1 and it has been always like that. Now it’s the energy. Two years ago when [Verstappen] won all the races it was the downforce. He could go in the corners at 280km\/h and we could go in the corners at 250km\/h because we didn’t have the downforce.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt the end of the day, this is Formula 1. We close the visor, we go, and this is the same motor racing. Sometimes we go to the rental kart here in Bahrain \u2013 incredible circuit, by the way \u2013 and you have a lot of fun with a rental kart. So we still love motor racing, we still love competing, and for the regs I understand there is less input by the driving skills. But I think after three or four races maybe we have a better idea.\u201d<\/p>\n

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As F1\u2019s most experienced driver in history, having debuted in the world championship back in 2001, Alonso still misses the machinery from his youth, at a time when drivers mostly pushed flat out with little tyre management in races.<\/p>\n

The 2005 and 2006 world champion added: \u201cDefinitely on the pure driving, I said last week at the car launch that for me the late 90s and the early 2000s will be unbeatable in terms of driving adrenaline and pure skills from a driver point of view, because you want to drive fast on the corners and find the limits of the car.\u201d<\/p>\n

Photos from Bahrain Pre-Season Testing – Day 3Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari\"Lewis<\/p>\n

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari<\/p>\n

Glenn Dunbar \/ LAT Images via Getty Images<\/p>\n

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Oscar Piastri, McLaren\"Oscar<\/p>\n

Oscar Piastri, McLaren<\/p>\n

Glenn Dunbar \/ LAT Images via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari\"Lewis<\/p>\n

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari<\/p>\n

Mario Renzi \/ Formula 1 via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team\"Gabriel<\/p>\n

Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team<\/p>\n

Guido De Bortoli \/ LAT Images via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing\"Max<\/p>\n

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing<\/p>\n

Mark Thompson \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls\"Liam<\/p>\n

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls<\/p>\n

Peter Fox \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari\"Lewis<\/p>\n

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari<\/p>\n

Peter Fox \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

George Russell, Mercedes\"George<\/p>\n

George Russell, Mercedes<\/p>\n

Peter Fox \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

Carlos Sainz, Williams\"Carlos<\/p>\n

Carlos Sainz, Williams<\/p>\n

Sam Bloxham \/ LAT Images via Getty Images<\/p>\n

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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari\"Lewis<\/p>\n

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari<\/p>\n

Mario Renzi \/ Formula 1 via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Franco Colapinto, Alpine\"Franco<\/p>\n

Franco Colapinto, Alpine<\/p>\n

Mark Sutton \/ Formula 1 via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari\"Charles<\/p>\n

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari<\/p>\n

Sam Bagnall \/ Sutton Images via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team\"Gabriel<\/p>\n

Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team<\/p>\n

Joe Portlock \/ LAT Images via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari\"Lewis<\/p>\n

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari<\/p>\n

Joe Portlock \/ LAT Images via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Oscar Piastri, McLaren\"Oscar<\/p>\n

Oscar Piastri, McLaren<\/p>\n

Joe Portlock \/ LAT Images via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes\"Andrea<\/p>\n

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes<\/p>\n

Sam Bagnall \/ Sutton Images via Getty Images<\/p>\n

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Alexander Albon, Williams\"Alexander<\/p>\n

Alexander Albon, Williams<\/p>\n

Kym Illman \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing\"Max<\/p>\n

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing<\/p>\n

Mark Thompson \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari\"Lewis<\/p>\n

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari<\/p>\n

Mark Sutton \/ Formula 1 via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team\"Gabriel<\/p>\n

Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team<\/p>\n

Andy Hone\/ LAT Images via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing\"Lance<\/p>\n

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing<\/p>\n

Sam Bagnall \/ Sutton Images via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac Racing\"Valtteri<\/p>\n

Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac Racing<\/p>\n

Joe Portlock \/ LAT Images via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing\"Lance<\/p>\n

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing<\/p>\n

Sam Bloxham \/ LAT Images via Getty Images<\/p>\n

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Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team\"Gabriel<\/p>\n

Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team<\/p>\n

Mark Sutton \/ Formula 1 via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team\"Oliver<\/p>\n

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team<\/p>\n

Sam Bloxham \/ LAT Images via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing\"Isack<\/p>\n

Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing<\/p>\n

Sam Bloxham \/ LAT Images via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing\"Lance<\/p>\n

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing<\/p>\n

Peter Fox \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

Oscar Piastri, McLaren\"Oscar<\/p>\n

Oscar Piastri, McLaren<\/p>\n

Guido De Bortoli \/ LAT Images via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari\"Lewis<\/p>\n

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari<\/p>\n

Joe Portlock \/ LAT Images via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team\"Gabriel<\/p>\n

Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team<\/p>\n

Sam Bloxham \/ LAT Images via Getty Images<\/p>\n

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Franco Colapinto, Alpine\"Franco<\/p>\n

Franco Colapinto, Alpine<\/p>\n

Joe Portlock \/ LAT Images via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac Racing\"Valtteri<\/p>\n

Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac Racing<\/p>\n

Glenn Dunbar \/ LAT Images via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Franco Colapinto, Alpine\"Franco<\/p>\n

Franco Colapinto, Alpine<\/p>\n

Mark Sutton \/ Formula 1 via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Carlos Sainz, Williams\"Carlos<\/p>\n

Carlos Sainz, Williams<\/p>\n

Mark Sutton \/ Formula 1 via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Franco Colapinto, Alpine\"Franco<\/p>\n

Franco Colapinto, Alpine<\/p>\n

Glenn Dunbar \/ LAT Images via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac Racing\"Valtteri<\/p>\n

Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac Racing<\/p>\n

Mark Sutton \/ Formula 1 via Getty Images<\/p>\n

George Russell, Mercedes\"George<\/p>\n

George Russell, Mercedes<\/p>\n

Rudy Carezzevoli \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

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Carlos Sainz, Williams\"Carlos<\/p>\n

Carlos Sainz, Williams<\/p>\n

Glenn Dunbar \/ LAT Images via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Oscar Piastri, McLaren\"Oscar<\/p>\n

Oscar Piastri, McLaren<\/p>\n

Glenn Dunbar \/ LAT Images via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari\"Lewis<\/p>\n

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari<\/p>\n

Mark Sutton \/ Formula 1 via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Franco Colapinto, Alpine\"Franco<\/p>\n

Franco Colapinto, Alpine<\/p>\n

Joe Portlock \/ LAT Images via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing\"Max<\/p>\n

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing<\/p>\n

Glenn Dunbar \/ LAT Images via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team\"Gabriel<\/p>\n

Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team<\/p>\n

Ahmad AlShehab \/ NurPhoto via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes\"Andrea<\/p>\n

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes<\/p>\n

Sam Bagnall \/ Sutton Images via Getty Images<\/p>\n

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Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team\"Gabriel<\/p>\n

Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team<\/p>\n

Mario Renzi \/ Formula 1 via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari\"Frederic<\/p>\n

Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari<\/p>\n

Sam Bagnall \/ Sutton Images via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Sergio Perez, Cadillac Racing\"Sergio<\/p>\n

Sergio Perez, Cadillac Racing<\/p>\n

Peter Fox \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari\"Lewis<\/p>\n

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari<\/p>\n

Mario Renzi \/ Formula 1 via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Oscar Piastri, McLaren\"Oscar<\/p>\n

Oscar Piastri, McLaren<\/p>\n

Glenn Dunbar \/ LAT Images via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes\"Andrea<\/p>\n

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes<\/p>\n

Andy Hone\/ LAT Images via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team\"Gabriel<\/p>\n

Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team<\/p>\n

Mario Renzi \/ Formula 1 via Getty Images<\/p>\n

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Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls\"Liam<\/p>\n

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls<\/p>\n

Glenn Dunbar \/ LAT Images via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Oscar Piastri, McLaren\"Oscar<\/p>\n

Oscar Piastri, McLaren<\/p>\n

Sam Bagnall \/ Sutton Images via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team\"Esteban<\/p>\n

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team<\/p>\n

Mark Sutton \/ Formula 1 via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari\"Lewis<\/p>\n

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari<\/p>\n

Alastair Staley \/ LAT Images via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari\"Lewis<\/p>\n

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari<\/p>\n

Mark Thompson \/ Getty Images<\/p>\n

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing\"Lance<\/p>\n

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing<\/p>\n

Joe Portlock \/ LAT Images via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari\"Lewis<\/p>\n

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari<\/p>\n

Mario Renzi \/ Formula 1 via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Read Also:<\/p>\n

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

George Russell: Bahrain F1 test a “reality check” for Mercedes as Red Bull ahead <\/a><\/p>\n

To read more Motorsport.com articles visit our website<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Fernando Alonso says Formula 1 drivers now have to drive 50km\/h slower in high-speed corners to get the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":474565,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[441],"tags":[3016,72754,49,26292,48,578,3018,930,576,577,3484,932,1885,2190,82],"class_list":{"0":"post-474564","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-formula-1","8":"tag-aston-martin-racing","9":"tag-audi-f1-team","10":"tag-ca","11":"tag-cadillac-racing","12":"tag-canada","13":"tag-f1","14":"tag-fernando-alonso","15":"tag-ferrari","16":"tag-formula-1","17":"tag-formula1","18":"tag-getty-images","19":"tag-lewis-hamilton","20":"tag-max-verstappen","21":"tag-red-bull-racing","22":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/474564","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=474564"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/474564\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/474565"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=474564"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=474564"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=474564"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}