Lance Stroll Destroys 2026 F1 Regulations in Brutal Rant
Aston Martin Formula One driver Lance Stroll has ridiculed the 2026 F1 car and new regulations, calling the whole exercise a "science project" championship. For the first time in the history of premier class racing, cars will run on 50 percent electric power starting next year, with the other half coming from a conventional internal combustion unit powered by sustainable fuels.
2026 marks the year when F1 enters a new era of regulations. The cars will be lighter and slightly more compact than the current ground effect cars. The 2026 car has been designed to promote closer racing that supports easy overtaking. One of the most standout features will be active aerodynamics on both the front and rear wings, which will replace the current Drag Reduction System.
The active aerodynamics will reportedly feature two modes: X-mode for drag reduction on the straights and Z-mode for increased downforce on corners. A manual override system will provide the extra electrical energy for a power boost while overtaking.
However, there has been much skepticism from several F1 personalities about whether the cars will enable close racing, especially when they run out of electric energy during races. Stroll expressed his disappointment with the new regulations. He said:
Aston Martin's Canadian driver Lance Stroll drives during the first practice session at the Red Bull Ring race track in Spielberg, Austria, on June 27, 2025, ahead of the Formula One Austrian Grand Prix.
Aston Martin's Canadian driver Lance Stroll drives during the first practice session at the Red Bull Ring race track in Spielberg, Austria, on June 27, 2025, ahead of the Formula One Austrian Grand Prix.
ERWIN SCHERIAU/APA/AFP/Getty Images
"We'll get a bit of an idea in the test and then in Australia, but the regulations, I think, are a bit sad.
"I have driven it in the sim, and that's why I'm a bit sad. It is a shame that in Formula 1, we're taking the path of electric energy, and we've had to take all the downforce off to support the battery power.
"It would just be fun to see some light, nimble, fast cars with lots of downforce, and just to simplify the whole thing a little bit, so less of an energy battery championship science project and more of a Formula 1 racing championship.
"So I don't love the idea of the new regulations, and I think a lot of the drivers can agree on that, and I don't think some of them can talk about it for political reasons.
"It is exciting to think about cars that can scream a little louder, be lighter and just not depend or focus so much on energy or batteries or the power train, that is not very racey."
Stroll's concerns could be valid, and it is likely that F1 and its governing body, the FIA, agree with the general feeling. FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem admitted that the current cars are complicated and expensive to develop. Thus, the sport could revert to V8 engines by 2029. He said:
"The current engine is so complicated, you have no idea, and it is costly. R&D [research and development] is reaching $200 million, and the engine is costing approximately $1.8m to $2.1m, so if we go with a straight V8, let's see.
"Many of the manufacturers produce V8s in their cars, so commercially it's correct. How much is it? You drop it. The target is more than 50% in everything."
"To us, the V8 is happening. With the teams now, I'm very optimistic, happy about it. FOM [Formula One Management] are supportive, the teams are realising it is the right way.
"We need to do it soon... you need three years, so hopefully by 2029 we have something there, but the fuel is also very expensive, and we have to be very careful with that. Transmissions are very expensive."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NBC Sports
44 minutes ago
- NBC Sports
Vasek Pospisil retiring from tennis after a career that included a Wimbledon doubles title
Vasek Pospisil, who won a Wimbledon men's doubles title and helped Canada win the Davis Cup, will retire from tennis after playing in the Toronto tournament next week. 'Eighteen years of professional tennis. Looking forward to playing in front of you one last time in Toronto,' the 35-year-old Pospisil posted Monday on social media. Pospisil has been an advocate for players on the tours and joined with Novak Djokovic to form the Professional Tennis Players' Association, which filed a class-action lawsuit in federal court in New York against some of the groups running the sport. On the court, Pospisil paired with Jack Sock to earn a Wimbledon championship in 2014 and was part of the Canadian team that won the Davis Cup title in 2022. Pospisil reached career-high rankings of No. 4 in doubles and No. 25 in singles. The hard-court Masters event in Canada awarded Pospisil a wild-card entry. 'It's never easy making a decision like this,' he said. 'Tennis has been a huge part of my life, but it has become clear, both mentally and physically, that it's the right time to step away.'
Hamilton Spectator
an hour ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Delta terminal upgrades complete, expanding capacity for auto trade at the Port of Vancouver
Vancouver, B.C., July 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority and Wallenius Wilhelmsen are pleased to announce the completion of the terminal upgrades as part of the Annacis Auto Terminal Optimization Project in Delta, British Columbia. Construction, which began in 2022, involved consolidating two existing automobile terminals—Annacis Auto Terminal and Richmond Auto Terminal—into a single facility at the Annacis Auto Terminal. The improvements will allow the terminal to handle up to 480,000 vehicles annually (36% increase in capacity). The project includes the creation of 60 rail car spots through the expansion of two existing terminal rail yards, a new vehicle processing building, along with the installation of eight electric vehicle charging stations. Additionally, the project frees up valuable industrial land for other trade-enabling activities in the future—bolstering further economic growth in the region. Operated by Wallenius Wilhelmsen, the Annacis Auto Terminal serves more than ten of the world's top auto manufacturers. Canadian auto sales saw an 8% increase in 2024, due to strong sales momentum in the first half of the year, steady production and inventory levels, easing interest rates, and dealership incentives. The Port of Vancouver helped Canadians access the cars they need, importing almost 470,000 vehicles in 2024—surpassing 2023 volumes by 3% and setting an all-time record for the sector. The project is funded by the Government of Canada through the National Trade Corridors Fund, the port authority, and Wallenius Wilhelmsen. It is one of the nearly 40 infrastructure projects proposed as part of the Greater Vancouver Gateway 2030 strategy to support national, provincial, regional, and local benefits. Learn more about it and other work being done in collaboration with industry and government to support trade through the gateway at . Quotes ' Last year marked a record year for auto trade through the Port of Vancouver, and the completion of these on-terminal works is a significant step forward in ensuring we are well-positioned to continue enabling Canada's auto trade through the port. We would like to thank our terminal operator— Wallenius Wilhelmsen —an d the Government of Canada for their partnership in successfully reaching this milestone on this important project. ' – Jennifer Natland, Vice-President, Properties & Environment for the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority. ' Consumers, workers, and small businesses benefit from efficient and reliable supply chains. By improving the efficiency of cargo movement at the Annacis Auto Terminal, we are supporting the growth of our economy and ensuring that Canadian businesses are competitive on the national and global stage. This will make life cost less for Canadians and British Columbians. ' – The Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Transport and Internal Trade ' We're proud to mark the successful completion of the Annacis Auto Terminal Optimization Project. As terminal operators, we've worked closely with the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority and project partners to ensure the improvements not only enhance operational efficiency but also support a safer, more sustainable, and customer-focused facility. The project has modernized key areas of the terminal and added dedicated infrastructure that will improve flow and support future growth. We're confident that the enhancements will benefit our customers and partners well into the future. ' – Timothy McGee, VP Canada Operations, Wallenius Wilhelmsen
Miami Herald
2 hours ago
- Miami Herald
Luxury automakers have a more aggressive tariff battle plan
Small businesses get a lot of attention during campaign season. You don't have to search long for a soundbite of a politician calling small businesses the "backbone of our economy" or the "lifeblood of America" or some other metaphor. While some argue that the giant omnibus bill that was passed earlier this month provides relief to small businesses through tax breaks, evidence shows that tariffs, President Donald Trump's primary economic agenda, have done immeasurable harm to small businesses. Related: Another luxury car maker is taken down by US tariffs More than 97% of the companies that import goods are small businesses with fewer than 500 employees, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Nearly half of those small businesses had fewer than 50 employees. Those small businesses were responsible for a third of the total value of goods imported. Big businesses also import a lot of goods, but they often have more flexibility when it comes to shifting supply chain strategies. This is not the same for small businesses. "For many small business importers, even a small increase in tariffs can have a profound effect on their bottom line," the Chamber of Commerce report states. "These businesses typically operate with tight profit margins and limited financial flexibility." This dynamic is also being played out in the auto space, where luxury automakers have been more aggressive with their strategy to combat tariffs, while non-luxury automakers, like small businesses, are forced to be more cautious. Image source: Lucy/Getty Images President Trump has been very clear that he doesn't want automakers to raise prices due to his tariffs. General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis, the three domestic manufacturers, have all agreed to those terms, usually blaming regular seasonal price adjustments for any increases. Foreign companies with large manufacturing footprints in the U.S. have also acquiesced to the president's wishes, while also attributing the minimal price increases to seasonality. But luxury automakers don't seem to be toeing the same line. Aston Martin British luxury automaker Aston Martin (makers of the iconic James Bond car) plans to raise prices on some of its cars and limit shipments to the U.S. Ferrari Italian marque Ferrari says it will raise prices as much as 10% on most of its models, even models that have already been sold. Ferrari sales contracts allow the company to adjust pricing due to changing economic conditions, according to Reuters. Mercedes-Benz German luxury automaker Mercedes-Benz recently reported a 9% second-quarter sales decline that it blamed on tariffs. But Mercedes has a significant manufacturing presence in the U.S., and in response ,it plans to add production capacity at its Alabama plant. Jaguar Land Rover Jaguar Land Rover announced that it was pausing U.S. shipments from the UK in April before restarting them after the the U.S. and UK announced they had reached a deal on the framework for a tariff deal. BMW Group BMW Group, which includes BMW, Mini and Rolls-Royce, initially stated that it would absorb tariff costs, but it has since said that it will raise prices on the 2 Series that it builds in Mexico. Meanwhile Mini is delaying bringing its Chinese-built electric Aceman crossover and convertible Cooper to the U.S. due to the tariffs. Related: 1 in 5 new car shoppers are committing a big financial blunder The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
