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Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton has explained in detail how the feeling of tension he gets from direct, wheel-to-wheel battles is absent in some races.
In 2026, drivers will have to adapt to a new racing style where 50% of the power comes from enhanced hybrid systems—a significant increase from the roughly 20% in the previous generation.
This means they must balance the desire to use all available power against the risk of becoming vulnerable to an attack from a rival. Tracks like Monaco and Hungary are ideal for this style of racing, as the heavy braking zones and slow nature of the circuits allow the batteries to constantly recharge.
On the other hand, this has diminished the challenge of high-speed tracks like Albert Park, Suzuka, Silverstone, and Spa. Fernando Alonso even described fast sections like the Esses at Suzuka or Maggotts and Becketts at Silverstone as "charging stations" for the cars.
Commenting on the situation, Hamilton described how he is "completely gutted" that racing skills have been de-emphasized.
"No, it completely guts me," Hamilton explained regarding the reduced challenge at tracks like Suzuka, Silverstone, and Spa. "Those are the tracks I look forward to. Monaco is a stunning place, a beautiful country, and an incredible track for a qualifying lap, no matter what car you're driving. But it's the least enjoyable race because you can't overtake, and for me personally, racing is everything. My excitement isn't in qualifying; it's in the race. It's in the battles with people, the wheel-to-wheel racing, trying to outsmart and outmaneuver the drivers you're competing against, the tension, the defending, and all those things. That's racing, that's what I'm looking for, and when you go to races where you can't do that, it's not the most satisfying," added the Ferrari driver.
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