Why high-speed corners are “50km/h slower” with 2026 F1 vehicles

Fernando Alonso says Method 1 drivers now should drive 50km/h slower in high-speed corners to get essentially the most out of the 2026 vehicles.

Assembly brand-new chassis and engine laws, F1 equipment now contains a a lot larger electrical component, which has made vitality administration preponderant by way of driving.

F1 racers now want to reap as a lot vitality as doable underneath deceleration to deploy it on the most opportune second, however there may be little time to achieve by deploying further energy in high-speed corners, relative to lengthy straights.

As Alonso spoke to the press in Bahrain on Friday afternoon, Max Verstappen’s newest feedback have been put to him, with the four-time world champion branding F1’s 2026 vehicles as “Method E on steroids” on Thursday.

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Alonso didn’t fairly disagree, although he insisted one ought to anticipate the primary couple of grands prix earlier than drawing conclusions; the Aston Martin driver used the Sakhir circuit’s Flip 12 as a significant instance – a right-hander which theoretically is the monitor’s quickest curve.

“Right here in Bahrain, Flip 12 has traditionally been a really difficult nook,” the Spanish veteran defined. “So that you used to decide on your downforce degree to go Flip 12 simply flat. So that you take away downforce till you might be in Flip 12 simply flat with new tyres after which within the race. So driver talent was decisive issue to go quick in a lap time.

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

Picture by: Aston Martin

“Now in Flip 12 we’re like 50km/h slower as a result of we do not need to waste vitality there and we need to have all on the straights. So to do Flip 12 as a substitute of 260km/h at 200km/h, you possibly can drive the automobile – the chef can drive the automobile in Flip 12 at that velocity. However you do not need to waste vitality since you need to have it on the straights.

“So I perceive Max’s feedback, as a result of from a driver [point of view] you wish to make the distinction within the nook driving these 5km/h quicker, however now you might be dictated by how a lot vitality your engine may have on the following straight.

“However on the identical time that is Method 1 and it has been at all times like that. Now it is the vitality. Two years in the past when [Verstappen] received all of the races it was the downforce. He might go within the corners at 280km/h and we might go within the corners at 250km/h as a result of we did not have the downforce.

“On the finish of the day, that is Method 1. We shut the visor, we go, and this is similar motor racing. Generally we go to the rental kart right here in Bahrain – unbelievable circuit, by the way in which – and you’ve got loads of enjoyable with a rental kart. So we nonetheless love motor racing, we nonetheless love competing, and for the regs I perceive there may be much less enter by the driving expertise. However I feel after three or 4 races perhaps we’ve a greater thought.”

As F1’s most skilled driver in historical past, having debuted on this planet championship again in 2001, Alonso nonetheless misses the equipment from his youth, at a time when drivers largely pushed flat out with little tyre administration in races.

The 2005 and 2006 world champion added: “Undoubtedly on the pure driving, I stated final week on the automobile launch that for me the late 90s and the early 2000s will probably be unbeatable by way of driving adrenaline and pure expertise from a driver viewpoint, since you need to drive quick on the corners and discover the bounds of the automobile.”