5 May 2026Racingnews365Driver Ratings

Lando Norris Calls for Removal of F1 Battery to 'Fix' Current Cars

McLaren's Lando Norris says the only solution to F1's current car problems is to remove the hybrid battery, calling recent tweaks inadequate. He argues the regulations unfairly penalize flat-out driving and create a frustrating 'yo-yo' effect during races, leaving overtaking drivers instantly vulnerable.

Lando Norris has bluntly stated that the only way to truly fix Formula 1's current generation of cars is to 'get rid of the battery,' arguing that recent aerodynamic tweaks are insufficient. The McLaren driver criticized the regulations for penalizing drivers who push flat-out, highlighting a persistent 'yo-yo' effect in races that makes overtaking maneuvers precarious due to energy deployment limitations.

Why it matters:

Norris's comments reflect a growing chorus of driver dissatisfaction with the 2022-era ground effect cars, which were designed to improve racing. His stark solution—removing the hybrid battery—strikes at the core of F1's modern hybrid power unit philosophy and underscores a significant gap between the regulatory intent and the on-track driving experience for the competitors.

The details:

Norris dismissed the floor edge and diffuser adjustments introduced for the Miami Grand Prix as only a 'small step in the right direction,' claiming the sport is not yet at an acceptable level.
He emphasized that drivers are still penalized for pushing to the limit in qualifying and cannot be flat-out in corners without losing time, which he believes should never be the case.
The core issue cited is the 'yo-yo effect' in races, where a driver who overtakes is immediately vulnerable to being re-passed on the next straight because their battery energy (ERS) is depleted from the overtaking move.
Norris sees no technical fix within the current framework, asserting that the fundamental problem lies with the hybrid system's energy deployment characteristics and its interaction with the car's aerodynamics.

What's next:

While a complete removal of the hybrid battery is politically and technically improbable for the current regulatory cycle, the feedback from top drivers like Norris will add pressure for the 2026 rules. The FIA and Formula 1 are already crafting the next set of technical and power unit regulations, where managing the trade-off between sustainable hybrid technology and driver-friendly cars will be a central challenge. Norris's hope for a battery-free solution in 'a few years' is unlikely, but his critique will fuel the debate on simplifying the racing product.