Concerned Sainz fears that 'big crash' could occur due to 2026 regulations

The regulation overhaul saw the Drag Reduction System replaced by active aerodynamics, meaning front and rear wings would open up through the 'Straight Mode' zones on track.

Unlike DRS, the SM zones can be used without being within a second of the car in front, and they appear across several parts of the track, including some kinks and corners.

As a result, drivers have raised concerns about the lack of downforce through high-speed corners due to SM and active aerodynamics, and Sainz was the latest to do so after the Chinese Grand Prix.

"I think SM is a plaster on top of a plaster," the Spaniard said to GPblog and others in Shanghai.

After the major regulation overhaul took effect for the 2026 season, Sainz has been among the many drivers who have voiced concerns about the new cars.

After his DNF in Shanghai, Max Verstappen said the new cars were "painful" and claimed it to be "not racing", doubling down on his criticism after doing so at the Australian Grand Prix.

2025 World Champion Lando Norris also had a scathing assessment on the 2026 cars after the Australian Grand Prix, with the Brit saying, "We’ve come from the best cars ever made in Formula 1 and the nicest to drive to probably the worst."