MONTREAL 鈥� McLaren driver Lando Norris believes Formula One is more exciting than it has been in a long time, but fears that may change with the sport鈥檚 governing body set to implement new regulations.
The F1 grid is tightening after years of undisputed Red Bull supremacy and it鈥檚 making for great entertainment, as seen last weekend at the Canadian Grand Prix.
Although Red Bull鈥檚 Max Verstappen won out at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, the result was far from a foregone conclusion with three different drivers holding the lead.
But just as the competition is heating up, the governing body FIA is unveiling new technical guidelines set to take effect in 2026.
"The last regulation change we did, the last year was kind of the most exciting year between the first team to the last team,鈥� Norris said. 鈥淣ow, just when it gets exciting, there's going to be another change.鈥�
The 2026 amendments, which haven't been ratified yet, include shedding 30 kilograms and 10 centimetres off current F1 vehicles while introducing improved aerodynamics. Engines will also change significantly for the first time since 2014, becoming simpler to attract new manufacturers
鈥淲e have an important place in society to be at the forefront of technology and innovation, and I think that's always what F1's been about in some ways,鈥� McLaren driver Oscar Piastri said. 鈥淵ou could argue that sometimes that does come at the cost of the racing, which is always a shame.
鈥淲e're only just starting to catch up to Red Bull, week in, week out.鈥�
Technical developments often introduce an era of dominance for teams that nail the engineering early, while others take years to catch up.
In 2021, Verstappen and seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes duked it out until the final race in one of the most exciting seasons in F1 history.
New regulations took effect the following year and sparked Red Bull鈥檚 unrivalled run of 39 wins in 44 races in 2022 and 2023.
The lack of drama led some to suggest the sport鈥檚 popularity in North America was beginning to decrease after it grew exponentially thanks to 鈥淒rive to Survive,鈥� Netflix鈥檚 behind-the-scenes series.
鈥淵ou can have massive gaps (with new rules) and then people are gonna go 鈥榳ell, it's just boring again,'鈥� Norris said. 鈥淲hen you look at how it is now it's probably as exciting as it's been in a very long time. I want to just leave it like this for a few years, and I think that's going to be the best for people watching on TV."
The FIA introduced a cost cap in 2021 to curb the disparity between teams. But even Verstappen and Hamilton, who鈥檝e benefited greatly from changes in their careers, said they were concerned by the gap increasing after the regulations were revealed Thursday.
鈥淭he longer you keep the regulations the same, the closer it gets between the teams,鈥� Verstappen said. 鈥淪o 鈥�26 will be probably quite a big reset.鈥�
鈥淢ore often than not, when they've done the changes, some teams do better than the others,鈥� added Hamilton. 鈥淚 hope that with this new regulation change everything's a bit closer.鈥�
Verstappen maintains a 56-point lead in the drivers鈥� standings. Still, four different pilots have won races through this year鈥檚 nine stops, more than all of last season.
Red Bull is also first in the constructors鈥� championship with 301 points, but Ferrari has 252 even after a disastrous weekend where both Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz did not finish.
McLaren isn鈥檛 far behind with 212 and even Mercedes (124) is making strides after George Russell and Hamilton placed third and fourth in Montreal.
鈥淭hat's four teams who are fighting towards the top,鈥� Norris said. 鈥淓ight cars, you're going to see different winners. And I think that's exciting for people watching, but definitely you're not going to have that in 鈥�26.
鈥淣ext year should be an exciting year for everyone, just from first to last. I think it's going to be exciting. But then that's all going to go.鈥�
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 10, 2024.
Daniel Rainbird, The Canadian Press
