In 2023, F1’s technical mastermind Adrian Newey predicted that the 2026 regulations would force the cars to be a “lot slower”. A few weeks ago, he reiterated his stance, saying that the new regulations sound “slightly strange”. When a man of such status gives such criticism, you’d think the FIA would take notes. But fans seem to be quite dissatisfied with the 2026 F1 car reveal.

2026 will bring a wave of changes in the car design and its operation. F1 will bid farewell to DRS to be replaced by ‘Active Aero’ on the moveable front and rear wings, which creates a ‘low drag mode’ for overtaking. The focal point is reducing the car size to make them ‘nimble’. The weight will drop by 30 kgs, the car width will drop by 100 mm, wheelbase by 200mm, and maximum floor width by 150mm.

The FIA has created “cars that are light, supremely fast and agile but which also remain at the cutting edge of technology,” single-seaters director Nikolas Tombazis said. “And to achieve this, we worked towards what we called a ‘nimble car’ concept. Lighter, more powerful, and more focused on driver skill, the 2026 FIA Formula One Technical Regulations have been designed to provide closer racing among drivers, increase the competition between teams, and to improve the spectacle.”

This is the FIA’s first comprehensive step to get rid of the current evils. But fans aren’t happy with their supposedly empty promises.

Fans lash out at FIA’s same-old statements after underwhelming 2026 F1 car launch

Increasing sustainability and enabling close, wheel-to-wheel racing has been the FIA’s main objective. By reducing the car size, they have taken the first step to better overtaking in narrow street circuits. Energy recovery will quicken by eliminating the MGU-H and adding more power to the MGU-K. Reliance on the electric component increases, aiding sustainability. The FIA’s promises, however, are on the same line as 2022, making fans worry about the new cars.

To avoid a repeat of Max Verstappen‘s unrivaled dominance, the FIA declared that the 2026 cars will enable closer racing. But social media users quickly pointed out how the same promises were made for the 2022 ground-effect cars. One fan even mocked F1 for the 2022 failed car design that induced ‘porpoising’.

Another fan seconded this emotion. Though they were on board with the FIA’s revolutionary attempt at changing F1 for the better, ghosts of the past haunted them.

Another X user validated such emotions but asked F1’s governing body to prove the design’s worth before the teams blindly headed to the tracks in 2026. Introducing testing cars isn’t a bad solution either. It would save much time and effort for both parties.

One fan addressed the elephant in the room – the marginal decrease in the car’s dimensions. 100mm (1 cm) to 200 mm (2cm) decreased in the measurements seems as good as nothing.

Even Instagram was filled with skepticism around the 2026 car design. While some demanded the return of V10 and V12 engines instead of the current “spongebob sounding cars”, others couldn’t help but notice that the 2026 car looks like an F2 car.

All hope is not lost because there was some good reception for the new design. The push-to-pass instead of the DRS received a warm welcome in fans’ hearts. But the FIA has received the message loud and clear. Viewership could tank, if the next set of major changes falls flat like the current generation. Which side of the debate are you on?