Coulthard worries about regulations in 2026

F1 News

Coulthard is next to question the 2026 rules
17 July at 18:30
  • Jeroen Immink

Former Formula 1 driver David Coulthard is yet another expert who has cast doubt on the new regulations for 2026. From that season, a lot will be changed in Formula 1. The balance in the car between the engine, aerodynamics and chassis will become more 50/50. But far from everyone in the paddock thinks this is the right solution.

Earlier, Max Verstappen, Adrian Newey, and Christian Horner expressed their doubts about this being the right path for F1. According to them, the battery cannot cope at all if the car demands 50% of its power. In addition, active aerodynamics would only be used to force overtaking, and more focus should be put on the cars' weight, according to Verstappen. Coulthard seems to agree with this.

Coulthard joins Verstappen, Newey and Horner

"Having said that, I have a concern that I feel is shared by the engineers and drivers that as we increase them to a 50/50 electrical, internal combustion that changes the profile of the lap and how the cars develop," Coulthard reveals to Planetf1.com. "They will all race it, the best drivers will win, the best teams will win. But how we perceive [it will change]," said the Scot.

In doing so, the former F1 driver of Red Bull and McLaren, and others, fear that spectacular overtakes will disappear. "If they’re slower at the braking zone, they’ll brake later. So we could end up with a shorter braking distance which may be detrimental to overtaking – so Daniel Ricciardo’s dives on the inside may not happen," Coulthard added.

This article was written in collaboration with Olly Darcy