First thoughts on the New F1 changes and broadcast.

[bdcardinal]

To watch Sky on the Apple TV app, go to F1, then scroll down to teh "Catch the Entire 2026 F1 Season" icon. Then scroll down to "Catch the XX Grand Prix on Sky Sports" and enjoy the usual broadcast.

I am genuinely wondering if streaming only will backfire and if we will see the US and Monaco GPs on regular TV.

 

[Pablo]

Pretty good clown show actually

 

[UNC006]

Remember the changes to the power train were done to pull Audi in. Audi has made huge strides using the hybrid set up in WEC (Hypercar).

If the changes to power train were done to pull in Audi, F1 would have allowed front wheel regen. Limiting regen & propulsion to the rear wheels gives Audi no advantage, as seen by results we’re seeing so far.

 

[loneryder]

I think this will help passing, not everybody will always regenerate. Then the blocking begins to try and keep the position with less battery.

Saw that happen last night.

 

[Carmudgeon]

The cars are fine. The PUs they can try to fix as the formula evolves.

Not having to endure Crofty -- priceless.

 

[Patman]

The first few laps of the race were very exciting! I thought the whole race was going to be like that but then it settled in and was kinda boring for the most part. But I think we will see more exciting action this year than we have in a while.

 

[ceecbtg]

This is Formula E+. Ridiculous engine sound, speed loss on straight, battery management. First year for me that I don't follow it, I watched resume and bye. I did hope better things with Liberty and Haas/Cadillac influence, we don't want that electric imposition here, they are limiting our free mobility in real life too. Unacceptable.

 

[Hermann]

Anybody else feel bad for the Toyota clown show? They can’t beat Ferrari at LeMans so they sponsor Haas F1 who uses Ferrari power?

It's all an illusion, if you can but perceive

 

[loneryder]

The first few laps of the race were very exciting! I thought the whole race was going to be like that but then it settled in and was kinda boring for the most part. But I think we will see more exciting action this year than we have in a while.

Mercedes and Ferrari seem to be way ahead of everyone else with these cars. I hope it doesn't turn out to be those cars in front all season. Could get very boring.

 

[Patman]

Mercedes and Ferrari seem to be way ahead of everyone else with these cars. I hope it doesn't turn out to be those cars in front all season. Could get very boring.

I wouldn’t have a problem with two teams duking it out at the front of every race. It’s much more exciting than watching Max pull away from the rest of the field and nobody else having a chance at getting first. Those years were brutal. I know a lot of people hated when Mercedes dominated the hybrid era but at least we had two drivers that could win the race and not just one. So if we have a season where 4 different drivers are the ones winning at least that’s better.

 

[Pablo]

RB & Mc will be right there soon enough and I bet with other teams as well

I pretty much turned my ears on at T=0. I had no idea at that point where Piastri had gone. Seems like even the announcers didn’t make a point of it….???!!???

 

[97prizm]

I'm a lifelong F1 fan who started watching in the late '60s as a 13 or 14 year old. The new 2026 rules are ridiculous. The virtue signaling by today's F1 is a joke. There is NOTHING GREEN about F1 but they sure try and convince you otherwise.

I find it ironic that F1 has now become so "green" the drivers are now distracted drivers because they have to manage their hybrid systems rather than simply driving the car to its maximum potential. Have you noticed how soon they're lifting off on long straights so they can regen?! Kiss late braking passes goodbye.

Add to it the Heinz 57 Apple TV broadcast team....,F1 is becoming unwatchable for me. Montoya is the only one who knows what he's talking about. In a strange way I'm almost relieved to be done with the politically correct, morally superior (in their minds) F1 charade.

The WEC is better in every way. And say what you want about IndyCar spec racing, but at least that's a true Driver's Championship.

Scott

WEC has always been my favorite. I used to love wrc but nobody seems to have a vehicle that can be raced anymore. It seems like it's going down the same path. If I wanted to watch hybrid vehicles race I'd have started a Prius racing series. F1 is trying way to hard.

 

[Hohn]

I'm a lifelong F1 fan who started watching in the late '60s as a 13 or 14 year old. The new 2026 rules are ridiculous. The virtue signaling by today's F1 is a joke. There is NOTHING GREEN about F1 but they sure try and convince you otherwise.

I find it ironic that F1 has now become so "green" the drivers are now distracted drivers because they have to manage their hybrid systems rather than simply driving the car to its maximum potential. Have you noticed how soon they're lifting off on long straights so they can regen?! Kiss late braking passes goodbye.

Add to it the Heinz 57 Apple TV broadcast team....,F1 is becoming unwatchable for me. Montoya is the only one who knows what he's talking about. In a strange way I'm almost relieved to be done with the politically correct, morally superior (in their minds) F1 charade.

The WEC is better in every way. And say what you want about IndyCar spec racing, but at least that's a true Driver's Championship.

Scott

The green in F1 is Bernie’s bank account and the accounts of the cool kids he lets into his club.

 

[slo town]

WEC has always been my favorite. I used to love wrc but nobody seems to have a vehicle that can be raced anymore. It seems like it's going down the same path. If I wanted to watch hybrid vehicles race I'd have started a Prius racing series. F1 is trying way to hard.

Bring back the Group B cars in WRC....and Michele Mouton, aka the Black Volcano. I had mad crush on her back in the day!

Scott

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

If the changes to power train were done to pull in Audi, F1 would have allowed front wheel regen. Limiting regen & propulsion to the rear wheels gives Audi no advantage, as seen by results we’re seeing so far.

There was a discussion about front wheel regen and iirc the other teams didn't want it.

 

[slo town]

There was a discussion about front wheel regen and iirc the other teams didn't want it.

You are correct. It was said it would make the cars too heavy.

Scott

 

[Dave P.]

I remember when a race was won by the fastest car. Now it's all about conserving fuel and/or electricity. These F1 cars need to slow down to recharge the batteries? Is that right? Is that racing? Lando ran right over some debris because he was looking at the steering wheel to see what his battery level was at I believe. I was never a fan of these hybrid engines. They have a Formula E series already for those that like electric cars.
Even in NASCAR it seems like a race is ten laps in and the announcers are talking about conserving fuel. I'd prefer to spend my Saturday night at a local dirt track.

 

[Vercingetorix]

I am in in total disagreement with the statement above. Endurance racing has always been about conserving energy and tires. 1999 LeMans is a perfect example. Toyota had the fastest car they set pole, they had a great driving team and the fastest race car. BMW also had a great team, but they weren’t as fast. I remember watching it unfold. The first set of pitstops BMW, went one lap further which isn’t unusual for the start of the race. When BMW went again, another lap further on the second set of pitstops my brain started calculating that in 18 hours the BMW would pit and not lose the lead. They could run the race on one fewer pit stop and Toyota could not run fast enough to make up the difference.

 

[Pablo]

It’s not like this is the first year of hybrids so that gripe seems a bit late. Are the cars significantly slower? Not really

I’m giving it a chance on different tracks

I’m interested!

 

[jghall00]

I think the engine architecture and power format is less important than quality racing. Yes, there are some questionable aspects, like the inability to complete some straights without the battery cutting out super clipping, but some of that can be resolved through future rule changes. The Australia race opening was fantastic. I hope we get more races like that as the season progresses.