Lando Norris finished fifth at the Japanese Grand Prix, but the Briton admitted to being reluctant to overtake Lewis Hamilton because of the new F1 regulations.
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The McLaren driver had a complicated Grand Prix at the Suzuka circuit, where overtaking has become particularly tricky due to the new F1 regulations. These rules, centered on energy recovery and deployment, have already been pointed out for their impact on safety.
Lando Norris emphasizes that these constraints can create dangerous situations: “There are two aspects. From a racing point of view, there is the safety aspect, which may have played a role today,” he confides.
The incident involving Oliver Bearman, hitting the wall after being surprised by a slowdown from Franco Colapinto, perfectly illustrates this risk.
Hesitation against Hamilton
During the race, Norris managed a late overtake on Lewis Hamilton to secure his fifth place, but he admitted that the battery operation had made him reluctant to attack earlier.
“Certain situations in the race… I didn’t even want to overtake Lewis, the battery deploys and I can’t control it,” he confides.
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This energy management creates a frustrating yo-yo effect for the drivers: “I overtake him, then I have no battery left, so he passes back in front. It’s not real racing.”
“When you depend totally on what the engine delivers, drivers should at least be able to control that, but that’s not the case,” he continues.
Limits that frustrate drivers
The Briton insists that these rules take F1 away from pure driving. Overtaking no longer relies solely on talent and performance, but on strategy and energy management, limiting both the spectacle and the pleasure for the drivers.
Despite his fifth place at Suzuka, Norris remains critical: “Safety and performance must coexist, but today, drivers do not fully master their vehicle.”
The 2026 F1 season is still long, but this dilemma already shows how much the balance between technical innovation and pure driving remains a central issue for F1.
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