Piastri warns of major challenge at Melbourne and Jeddah after F1’s new rules

Speaking to GPblog, the McLaren driver admitted to expecting a very different running, particularly after his simulator experience, before further admitting this could vary depending on the circuit.

“From the simulator runs I've done, it's very different. I think at certain tracks we're going to be much more harvest-limited than we are here,” Piastri explained.

The Australian continued by highlighting how energy harvesting will vary depending on the track layout. He pointed to the Jeddah Corniche as an example of a circuit that could prove particularly challenging.

“Again, it just depends on the layout of the circuit. Jeddah is another one — places where you have a few straights linked together by fast corners, where it's very difficult to harvest. That's where the most abnormality is going to come. So yeah, there's going to be some big differences, but in saying that, again, you can change things around a lot,” he added.

“We've seen people here in Turn 12. You can definitely make it a corner if you want to, and it's a lot harder than it was last year. But at the moment, it's kind of all set before you get in the car. You can change it on the fly, but it's a bit different because you're not just managing it on the throttle, let's say. Melbourne is going to look quite different, I think, and will be a challenge for us all, I'm sure,” he concluded.

The new F1 regulations have seen drivers adapt their driving style, particularly to the demands of the racetrack and particularly the new engine unit, which is split equally between the internal combustion engine and battery power.

These changes have largely attracted varying responses from drivers, with Max Verstappen being particularly critical of the new-generation cars.

Earlier, Piastri’s teammate, Lando Norris, made a surprise turnaround by agreeing with Verstappen about the new regulations.

The 2025 drivers’ champion admitted that the new-generation cars feel very different from what he is used to, aligning with Verstappen’s assessment.