Charles Leclerc Defends F1 2026 Racing: 'It's Better Than Critics Claim'

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc has rejected widespread criticism of F1 2026 racing, arguing that the new rules produce better overtaking and a more strategic element than many acknowledge.

Why it matters:

Leclerc's position as an 'outlier' on the grid gives weight to a counter-narrative against the negative feedback loop that followed the introduction of the 2026 regulations. His defense suggests that with fine-tuning — including the safety-driven power cap adjustments introduced in Miami — the racing may be closer to acceptable than the public backlash implies.

The details:

• Leclerc called the new system "really good" and said overtaking in energy-rich conditions has been underrated.
• He disagreed with criticism of battery-assisted passes: "I have always disagreed with that."
• The FIA made changes ahead of Miami, capping boost mode at 250kW for most of the lap (down from 350kW on straights) to cut high closing speeds after Oliver Bearman's Japanese GP crash.
• Leclerc acknowledged the driving style remains unintuitive at times — "it's not always natural what we do" — but saw improvement in Miami.
• He noted that the racing element "has improved a little bit" after the tweaks, though a full read is hard given Miami's energy-rich nature.

What's next:

Leclerc believes further fine-tuning is possible, but no radical changes are coming mid-season. With teams still developing their 2026 cars and energy management evolving, the true verdict on the racing spectacle may only arrive later in the year at lower-energy circuits like Monaco or Singapore.