A lively Canadian Grand Prix did nothing to silence criticism of Formula 1’s 2026 power units from the podium finishers.
Advert | Become a Supporter & go ad-free
Early concerns about the new power units prompted the FIA to adjust regulations to prevent the extreme drops in straight-line speed that had been observed. Those adjustments came into effect two races ago, but drivers still expressed unease.
Lewis Hamilton, who finished second in Montreal, said the behaviour of the latest generation of F1 cars “definitely doesn’t feel second nature” yet.
“It still continues to be a weird feeling,” Hamilton said. “You go down the power, you open up the [Straight Mode], and then the power dies halfway down the straight and the RPM starts dropping.
“It doesn’t feel like what motorsport should be. The engine should be ringing its neck off right to the end of the straight and just pulling and pulling. That’s what they used to do in the V8 times or the V10 times — they would just pull and pull. It’s another element of racing that was never there before.”
By contrast, the changes to chassis regulations for 2026 received more positive feedback. The new cars are narrower and lighter, and their simplified floors produce less downforce, which has helped improve close racing.
“I think ultimately the car is fundamentally a better design, so we can race and get close and follow each other closely,” Hamilton added. “I think that’s the best part of it.
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter andgo ad-free
“The power part, I think, is less exciting.”
Race winner Andrea Kimi Antonelli had fewer complaints about his power unit — Mercedes’ engine has so far been the benchmark this season — but he acknowledged that the way power is delivered during races can be frustrating.
“Sometimes it triggers you a little bit how the system works,” Antonelli said. “But definitely also with the changes that were made [before Miami], the FIA giving teams a bit more allowance on the system, has definitely helped quite a bit to make things a bit easier.”
Antonelli joined Hamilton in praising the new chassis rules. “I think that the cars, to follow, at least for now, is much better than last year,” he said. “You can actually follow a lot closer and that definitely creates more racing.
“On the power unit side, I cannot complain about my power unit because the team did an incredible job, but also they did great on the chassis side.
“I feel like with the PU obviously there’s still work to do and it will be interesting to see what’s going to happen in the next couple of years: if the regulation is going to change, if they’re going to give a bit more power to the combustion, a bit less to the electric, how it’s going to play out. I think that would be a further step in the right direction.”
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter andgo ad-free
“But I think already now it’s a lot. System-wise it’s better than the start of the season and definitely also for me it’s becoming more natural compared to what it was in Melbourne, for example.”
Max Verstappen, third on the podium, remained one of the most vocal critics of the 2026 power units. He said the current setup has made Formula 1 feel less pure compared with other categories he has raced in recently.
“This season I’ve been racing different kinds of cars, especially last week, that remind me how pure motorsport can be and how great the racing can be. So when I come back into Formula 1 — the thing is, of course, most of the drivers, we’re the best in the world, so even if you would give us a rental car, we’ll give you a good show and we’ll race each other very hard and well. So it has nothing to do in that sense with the rules,” Verstappen said.
“But for me, while driving, it’s all a bit confusing. It’s not what Formula 1 should be about. It’s way too complex, all of this.”
Verstappen acknowledged that many fans enjoy seeing multiple position changes during a race, whether those moves come from pure on-track overtakes or from the peculiarities of the power unit rules. Still, he said the sport should aim to simplify things.
“Most of the rules, the fans don’t even know what we are dealing with while driving: what is allowed when you’re behind or when you’re the car ahead, what we have to do on a formation lap or what we have to do in an out-lap, or how much battery we’re allowed to charge. All these things are just such a shame that we have to deal with all these things,” he said.
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter andgo ad-free
“For me, F1 just needs to be more pure and I really hope that what they try to do next year will go through because I think that is necessary, the minimum necessary, to make it a bit more natural and a bit more back to normal, or at least a bit more pure racing.
“But like I said, as drivers, give us any kind of car, we’ll always race and give a good entertainment or a good show. It doesn’t matter — people say, ‘Oh, but look now, the show is great, the cars were fighting.’ But it has nothing to do with the car. It just needs to be more pure.”
Miss nothing from RaceFans
Get a daily email with all our latest stories — and nothing else. No marketing, no ads. Sign up here:
2026 Canadian Grand Prix
- Stats: Antonelli has larger points lead than any driver had last year, and more
- Power deficit is keeping Ferrari out of the fight with Mercedes – Hamilton
- ‘Actually an opportunity’: How McLaren answered drivers’ calls to ditch tyre gamble
- “He needs to back up”: How Mercedes managed Russell and Antonelli’s Canadian GP fight
- ‘It doesn’t feel like what motorsport should be’: Podium trio still unhappy with F1’s power units
Browse all 2026 Canadian Grand Prix articles