Despite fierce criticism from some drivers, notably drivers such as Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc, the 2026 technical regulations are a welcome change to the sport, according to seven-time champion, Lewis Hamilton.

Verstappen criticised the new regulations, following a difficult weekend at the Chinese Grand Prix. The Dutchman stated: "It's playing Mario Kart. This is not racing." His comments have been widely debated by many people in the paddock. Evidently, Hamilton disagrees with Verstappen's sentiment.

Ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix, Hamilton stated: “If you go back to karting, it's the same thing, people are going back and forth, back and forth, you can never pull away. No one ever has ever referred to go-karting as yo-yo racing. It's the best form of racing."

The Brit continued: "Formula 1 has not been the best form of racing in a long, long time. Out of all the cars that I've driven in 20 years, this is the only car that you can actually follow through high-speed [corners] and not completely lose everything that you have. You can stay behind."

Mercedes' George Russell and Ferrari's Charles Leclerc had a notable battle at the start of the Australian Grand Prix, the opening race of the season, where the pair duelled intensely, swapping the lead back and forth several times, before Russell was able to streak ahead.

Hamilton's comments come after the recent ground effect regulations, from 2022-2025, and especially after the 2017-2021 technical regulations, with drivers at the time saying that it was difficult to follow behind another car due to the dirty air affecting the aerodynamics.

Hamilton continued: “We had the DRS before, which I think was a bit of a band-aid for that issue that you can't get close enough through the corners. Now we have the power difference [Overtake Mode], but it's so small, the power difference."

He added: "But when you get ahead and the car behind can keep up with you, I personally find it much more fun because that's the most overtaking and best battle I've had maybe since Bahrain, years and years ago with Nico"

The seven-time champion was referring to the 2014 battle against Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg, where the pair duelled for victory in Bahrain, swapping places a number of times throughout the race.

Hamilton concluded by saying: "That's how racing should be. It should be back and forth, back and forth. It shouldn't be like one move is done and that's it. So, I personally like that sort of racing. We just need all the rest of the teams to close up so we have more of those battles amongst the teams."

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