Lando Norris has sounded the alarm for Formula 1 fans, warning that the nail-bitingly close races we’re enjoying now might become a thing of the past with the new rules set to take effect in 2026.
Norris pointed out that there’s a good chance the new regulations will disrupt the grid significantly, moving away from the thrillingly tight competition seen recently. Just take the Canadian Grand Prix as an example, where the top seven drivers were separated by a mere 0.280 seconds in qualifying.
Explaining his concerns, Norris said, “I think you’re not going to have days like today again. You’re not going to have days like the last few weeks probably in ’26, ’27, ’28, or pretty much like ’28, ’29. So, it’s how it’s always been. Every time there’s a regulation change, there’s big gaps.” He further noted that towards the end of the last era in 2021, teams like Red Bull and Mercedes were getting closer, only for major regulation changes to spread them out once again.
Norris mentioned that while the current close racing is exciting, it’s likely to dissipate with the 2026 changes. “Red Bull had their time, and now it seems like we’ve been able to catch up. So just as we’re getting there, and I think probably looking ahead to next year already, next year should be an exciting year for everyone, just from first to last. I think it’s going to be exciting. But then that’s all going to go in ’26,” he said.
He highlighted the core dilemma for F1: should the sport maintain stable regulations to keep the racing close, or should it change the rules at the risk of spreading the field apart? According to Norris, “There might be some benefits in the race for those [2026] regulations, there might be some things that are worse. The type of racing you’re going to get is probably quite different. So, it’s complicated. It’s not a simple answer. I don’t know the answer, at the same time. I don’t think anyone knows exactly how it’s going to pan out.”
Touching on the current excitement in F1, Norris remarked, “Always at the end of these regulation changes we see days like today and we see closer battles – and now Mercedes up here as well. So that’s four teams who are fighting towards the top. [That] is eight cars, you’re going to see different winners. And I think that’s exciting for people watching. But definitely you’re not going to have that in ’26.”
Norris’s comments came after a meeting between F1 team bosses, F1 chiefs, and FIA single-seater director Nikolas Tombazis. The 2026 rules were a major talking point. Tombazis reiterated to the media that the governing body is open to making changes to the draft regulations to address concerns about car performance.
As F1 looks towards 2026, the sport faces a critical decision. Should it opt for stability to keep the races as close and exciting as they are now, or risk spreading the field wide apart with new regulations? Only time will tell how these changes will unfold, but for now, fans might want to savor the current nail-biting action.
Source: Motorsport
