Charles Leclerc Brands 2026 F1 Regulations as ‘Demanding than Ever’ for Drivers
Charles Leclerc revealed that the 2026 F1 regulations were bound to be more difficult than ever for the teams and drivers both.
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Charles Leclerc (via Kym Illman, Getty Images)
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The commencement of the 2026 season is right around the corner, with a majority of the teams having unveiled their challenger for the new regulations. The teams will have to work extra hard this time, as the regulations seem more difficult than in previous versions. The likes of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc have given skeptical remarks on the new era. Now, Leclerc has weighed in on the regulations further.
Charles Leclerc, much like his teammate, Lewis Hamilton, wasn’t fully satisfied after the initial simulator testing of the new regulations. The 2026 F1 regulations will focus more on active aerodynamics and the hybrid side of the engine. As such, Leclerc and Co. expect some difficulties in getting used to the new regulations of the 2026 season and performing well with Ferrari.
Speaking on his chances to succeed under the new regulation, Charles Leclerc asserted that they demanded an even higher level of preparation for the teams and drivers. He continued that there were many more systems to understand and optimize for the drivers, which made it all the more difficult. Regardless, Leclerc and Hamilton both were involved in the development process from the beginning, which meant that they had a good idea of the quirks of the new challengers.
The 2026 regulations demand an even higher level of preparation, particularly for us drivers. There are many new systems to understand and optimise, which is why we have been heavily involved from the early stages of the project’s development.
Charles Leclerc said, as reported by BBC.
Further, Charles Leclerc highlighted that energy management and the power unit will be the most significant aspects of the cars as compared to other factors. Ferrari will need to adapt to the new regulations and rely more on instincts than before. Subsequently, precise data will be necessary to ensure that the teams receive the best input from the drivers to ultimately help with development.
Energy management and the power unit will be among the most significant aspects – a fascinating challenge which will require us drivers to adapt quickly, relying more on instinct to begin with, and then increasingly on precise data.
Charles Leclerc added.
Fred Vasseur claims 2026 season ‘won’t be over’ at the Australian GP
The initial testing sessions might not provide enough information to the teams and drivers to perform well from the beginning of the 2026 season. Even the four-time champion Max Verstappen reckoned that teams would spend more time in the garage than on track during the testing sessions. As such, Ferrari’s team principal, Fred Vasseur, had similar thoughts to Charles Leclerc.
Fred Vasseur highlighted that the true performance of the 2026 F1 challengers would be revealed at the season opener in Australia. However, the first race itself would not give a hint of the team or driver that might win the championship. Rather, all teams will go under a significant development trajectory, more than they did in the previous years. Ferrari aims to get the maximum data on the car during private testing in Barcelona and start the development from the subsequent sessions.
We will see performance in Melbourne (at the first race of the season on 6-8 March), But the season won’t be over in Melbourne. There will be a lot of development through the year, more than in the last two years. The target in Barcelona will be to get maximum data on the car and then we start the development from Bahrain onwards.
Fred Vasseur said, as reported by BBC.
Charles Leclerc managed to beat Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari in the 2025 season since it was the latter’s debut year with the team. However, Hamilton will certainly prepare much harder for the upcoming year and provide a tough battle to Leclerc. For now, excitement reaches its peak as the commencement of the season is just a few weeks away.
Read More: Ross Brawn Reveals What Ferrari Must Do to Get “Vintage” Lewis Hamilton Back
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