Flavio Briatore Slams 2026 Regulations: “Why Change When Cars Are Close?”
Renowned Alpine team manager, Flavio Briatore, unleashes a storm of criticism against the upcoming 2026 technical revolution, questioning the necessity of altering the current regulations. With the Formula 1 paddock buzzing about potential changes in the regulations set to come into effect next season, Briatore shifts the focus to the perplexing decision to overhaul the technical rules just as teams were achieving performance parity.
In a bold statement, Briatore expressed his discontent, stating, “I believe that changing the regulations is a mistake. We currently have ten to twelve cars within two-tenths of each other, which is what we have always hoped for. We wanted cars to be very close to each other to see five, six, seven different drivers capable of winning races. And yet, we are changing the rules, and I do not know what purpose it serves.” The Alpine F1 boss emphasized the desire for fierce competition among drivers with closely matched cars, a goal that seemed within reach before the impending rule changes.
Briatore’s skepticism continued as he remarked, “It remains to be seen, but it will be a surprise to see what happens. I absolutely would not have changed the regulations. Costs have increased, and currently, as we have seen at the end of the sessions, there are eight to ten cars within a few tenths of each other. Achieving more than this is impossible.”
The seasoned figure’s critique of the imminent alterations to the regulations adds a new layer of scrutiny to the ongoing debate within the Formula 1 community. As teams gear up for the upcoming season, Briatore’s stark opposition to the 2026 regulations raises pertinent questions about the direction of the sport and the potential consequences of disrupting the hard-earned equilibrium among competitors.
