Stroll slams ‘fundamentally flawed’ F1: ‘We’re miles off’

Formula 1 driver Lance Stroll used the Miami Grand Prix paddock to warn that the 2026 hybrid regulations have turned modern F1 into a “fundamentally flawed” engineering exercise, far from the raw, fast machines he fell in love with.

Why it matters:

If the sport’s core appeal—high‑speed, high‑downforce racing—continues to be diluted, fan enthusiasm and the championship’s identity could erode, pressuring the FIA to reconsider its roadmap.

The details:

• The current generation weighs about 800 kg, forcing drivers into constant lift‑and‑coast management, which Stroll called “engineering compromise.”
• He contrasted that with the V8/V10 era, recalling the screaming Ferrari V10s and the nimble chassis of early‑2000s cars.
• Stroll confessed he finds testing F3 cars “a thousand times more fun” because they are lighter (550‑650 kg) and have unrestricted throttle.
• He warned the next major regulation overhaul isn’t due until 2031, leaving a half‑decade of what he describes as a “broken formula.”
• Fuel‑flow limits and the added battery‑assist blunt engine response and strip the cars of character, according to the driver.

What's next:

Stroll hopes the FIA eventually returns to louder, lighter, naturally aspirated machines, but he admits the current rulebook will stay for at least three to four seasons. The outcry may accelerate a V8 or V6‑turbo revival before 2031, or at minimum force a tweak to energy‑recovery limits to give drivers back more control.