Sebastian Vettel has added his voice to the growing conversation around the new mid-season regulation changes, stating his “hope” that F1 doesn’t “lose the DNA and the heart of the sport”.
Following extreme criticism of the new 2026 regulations, the FIA took time over the break to discuss the concerns and make adjustments.
The complex technical changes aim to reduce the lift and coast, super-clipping, closing speeds, and other areas where the regulations have caused scrutiny.
In response to the changes, the four-time world champion told SVT that he hopes they make the drivers “happier”.
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Vettel’s response
Vettel first acknowledged the initial grief the F1 drivers have expressed over the past months.
“From a sporting side, I hear, and I echo the criticism, because the cars are probably fun to drive, but it’s probably not so much fun to race because of the regulations and the difficulties that come with that,” he said.
“So I sympathise with the drivers, and I’m very critical not to lose the DNA and the heart of the sport, which is about finding the fastest driver in the fastest machine to win the race.”
Speaking on the changes to the regulations, Vettel hopes they appease the drivers as they are “the face of the sport”.
“If they come out of the car and they’re full of adrenaline and very excited, it’s what makes people excited on the screens and in the stands as well,” he added.
As F1 veers towards a new era, Vettel’s message is clear: innovation matters, but not at the cost of the raw emotion and racing spirit that makes the sport what it is.
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