Oliver Bearman Slams 'Ridiculous' 2026 F1 Cars, Compares Race Action to a Video Game Experience
In a fiery critique of the newly unveiled 2026 Formula 1 cars, rising star Oliver Bearman has unleashed a wave of frustration, dubbing the race dynamics at the Australian Grand Prix as “ridiculous.” As he kicked off the season with a commendable seventh-place finish at the Albert Park Circuit, Bearman couldn't mask his disappointment regarding the driveability of the latest machines on the grid.
The Haas driver engaged in a fierce battle for position with fellow competitor Arvid Lindblad, and while he expressed pride in his result, he lamented the challenges posed by the current generation of F1 cars. “It took me 10 laps. If you were a bit faster, you had the chance to overtake. Now it’s 1 tenth with the same overtaking delta,” Bearman revealed to reporters, highlighting a stark contrast between the current and previous car specifications. “It took me 30 laps almost to get faster, or 20 laps, you know. And I had a delta that would have taken me 3 laps probably to overtake him last year, so that sucked a little bit.”
The intensity of the race was palpable, especially during the first laps, where Bearman showcased his skill with some impressive moves. “I don’t really know what’s happening, I was just like, I guess I’ll try this boost button, see how it works. I was just flying past everyone on the straight, so it was quite funny,” he recounted, reflecting on the unorthodox dynamics of the race.
However, as the dust settled from the initial excitement, Bearman was candid about the overall driving experience of the new cars. When prompted about whether he felt like he was part of a video game, he responded, “Yeah, a little bit. It was like I was in F1 and everyone else was in F2.” Despite finishing in a respectable position, he acknowledged that the complexities of managing battery recharge during the race made for a less enjoyable driving experience. “It’s a lot of stuff to think about, which is complicated, but the fact that I finished P7 means that I’m happy. Even if the car has not been the most fun to drive this weekend.”
Bearman’s remarks align with criticisms voiced by other prominent drivers such as Lando Norris and Max Verstappen, as he expressed disbelief at the disproportionate performance delta created by the cars’ boost buttons. “It’s a bit ridiculous, to be honest, to have that much delta in a button and to lose that much on the next straight,” Bearman noted. He elaborated on the non-linear performance aspects of the cars, stating, “What you gain on the straight where you use the boost is a quarter as much as what you lose on the next straight. Unless you basically complete the move at the start of the straight, as in you exit the corner, you complete the move, and then you harvest, harvest, harvest, the next straight they’re going to get you back. That’s not racing, that’s Formula E.”
As the F1 world grapples with the implications of these radical changes, Bearman’s bold statements suggest a pressing need for reevaluation of the regulations governing the sport. The young British driver is not just making waves on the track, but also stirring a crucial conversation about the future of Formula 1 racing in this new era. This is just the beginning of what promises to be a season filled with intense scrutiny and debate over the evolution of the sport.
