Hamilton Defends 2026 F1 Cars; Verstappen and Norris Slam New Rules After Melbourne

At the 2026-spec Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, Lewis Hamilton was a notable outlier among top drivers in his positive assessment of the new 2026 F1 cars.

“Lewis Hamilton is the only top driver to speak positively about the new 2026 F1 cars after the Australian Grand Prix”

Quotidiano Motori

Driving from seventh on the grid to finish fourth at Albert Park, Hamilton described the car as "fantastic" and the race as "really fun," saying, "Personally I loved driving it."

Quotidiano Motori

The Quotidiano Motori report highlights that Hamilton's endorsement stood out in the Melbourne paddock given widespread criticism from his leading rivals.

Hamilton’s praise contrasted sharply with the broader paddock mood.

The article reports that several leading drivers, including Max Verstappen and Lando Norris, voiced strong criticism of the new technical regulations across the race weekend.

Quotidiano Motori

The specific content of Verstappen’s and Norris’s complaints is not detailed in the provided source.

Quotidiano Motori frames their positions as part of a wider scepticism about the 2026 rule changes among top competitors.

Hamilton recovered from seventh to fourth, which the article said showed he adapted well to the 2026-spec machinery and enjoyed the race.

“Lewis Hamilton is the only top driver to speak positively about the new 2026 F1 cars after the Australian Grand Prix”

Quotidiano Motori

The article also says several of his rivals did not share that enjoyment and were publicly critical of how the new regulations affected car behaviour and racing that weekend.

Limitations and gaps in the available reporting are notable: the single provided source does not include direct quotes from Max Verstappen or Lando Norris explaining their criticisms, nor does it survey other teams or technical personnel for a fuller picture.

Based solely on the provided article, Hamilton's view is well-documented while the specifics of the opposing critiques remain unspecified.

Quotidiano Motori