Formula 1’s 2026 regulations were meant to usher in a new era of closer racing and technological relevance – but for 1992 World Champion Nigel Mansell, the reality is falling far short of the promise.
As the sport continues to grapple with its 50-50 hybrid power unit era and complex energy deployment systems, Mansell has delivered a scathing critique of what he believes is artificial, misleading racing – where overtakes may look spectacular, but lack genuine sporting substance.
Speaking bluntly about the current spectacle in an interview with Autosport, Mansell did not hold back in his assessment of what fans are being shown on Sundays.
“I might get shot for saying this, but sadly, some of the overtakes are just totally false,” the former Williams and Ferrari driver said.
“I mean, some of the overtakes look great and then you come out the next corner, and then the car just blasts past you and the other car goes backwards because the “computer” is giving you the extra power not at the right time, and the driver doesn’t control that obviously, because he wouldn’t have employed it.”
For Mansell, the issue is not simply increased overtaking numbers – but the quality and meaning behind them. With drivers now required to manage and “harvest” energy throughout each lap, battles often hinge on system deployment rather than wheel-to-wheel skill alone.
The result, he argues, is a form of racing that can quickly undo itself within seconds of an overtake being completed.
Drivers questioning the spectacle
Concerns over the racing product are not limited to former champions. After the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka, reigning world champion Lando Norris admitted he had been reluctant to fully engage in combat on track, aware that any gain might be immediately reversed.
Mansell pointed directly to that mindset as evidence that the ruleset is not delivering genuine competition.
“I think it was Lando [Norris] who quoted, ‘Well, I didn’t want to overtake him going into the first corner and into the chicane, but I had no choice’,” he said.
“And then coming out of the corner, he’s in the lead and then the car just blasts past him again going down the straight.
“So I think you’ve got to be very careful because, forget me, it doesn’t matter about me, but the fans around the world, I know an awful lot of them are very grumpy.
“And to be fair to the fans, I agree with them.”
A growing chorus of concern
Mansell’s intervention adds to an increasingly vocal debate within the paddock. Several drivers – past and present – have already expressed discomfort with how the new generation of cars manages energy and shapes on-track battles.
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For Mansell, however, the core issue remains unresolved: if overtakes are dictated by systems rather than pure racing instinct, then the sport risks losing something fundamental.
And as he sees it, the fans are already noticing.
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