Carlos Sainz Slams New F1 Regulations After Australian GP: 'Formula They Thought Was Good...'

Last Updated:March 08, 2026, 17:52 IST

Sainz, who finished 15th in the curtain-riser, opened up on the lack of safety he experienced in the initial lap and voice that not many were happy with the alterations.

The 2026 season of Formula One was off to a mixed-review start as the new regulations came into effect at the Australian Grand Prix, which was won by Mercedes’ George Russell as he fended off competition from teammate Kimi Antonelli and Ferrari counterparts Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton as holder Lando Norris came in fifth.

The race in Melbourne was the first time the new F1 regulations came into play, and a lo of drivers and fans expressed their diasppointment with the changes, including Williams star Carlos Sainz.

Sainz, who finished 15th in the curtain-riser, opened up on the lack of safety he experienced in the initial lap and voice that not many were happy with the alterations.

“It feels bad. The start was dangerous with many cars having problems, and on the first lap with active aerodynamics and slipstreaming, it was very dangerous. I didn’t love it. Safety always has to come first, and it wasn’t the safest first lap.

“This sport is called Formula 1. The formula that they thought was good for Formula 1 is not adequate and needs to be changed. The 50-50 for F1 racing does not seem to be working, nor does anyone seem to be happy with it."

Defending champion Lando Norris was also critical of the new regulations which have hampered the cars performance and has had a direct impact on the sport.

“We’ve come from the best cars ever made in Formula One, and the nicest to drive, to probably the worst. It sucks," Norris told reporters at the season-opener in Melbourne.

“Everyone knows what the issues are. It’s just the fact the engine is a 50-50 split and it just doesn’t work."

Russell, however, opined that Norris wouldn’t have been as bothered with the massive changes to the regulations had he won the opener in Melbourne

The Mercedes star touched up on how the new car feels in comparison to the mean-machines from last year, which suffered issues with porpoising.

“If he was winning I don’t think he’d be saying the same," said Russell.

“We weren’t happy with how stiff the cars were last year and the porpoising. Everyone had a bad back and the drivers were complaining about that and the McLaren drivers said they had no porpoising, even though we watched their car and they were porpoising," the Brit added.

“So everyone is always looking to themselves and we are all selfish in this regard," he added.

“The truth is last year we had the same engine as them and McLaren did a better job than us and they beat us. Now McLaren have got the same engine as us, the same as Williams and the same as Alpine, and so far we’ve done a better job than them.

“That’s just how the game goes," he concluded.

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