Of all the Formula 1 workers, the ones who have suffered the most this week have undoubtedly been the community managers. Those in charge of the Championship and teams' social media spent the entire lead-up to the Chinese Grand Prix deleting negative comments from fans about the new format, to the extreme. As revealed by Corriere dello Sport, on Twitter, Instagram, or TikTok, even messages where followers simply said that last Sunday's Australian Grand Prix had been "boring" disappeared. There is a lot of tension in the paddock.
The semi-electric Formula 1 debut didn't convince anyone. Drivers, engineers, executives, fans, journalists... All the stakeholders of the competition criticized the new cars for the situations they create: overtaking stationary cars, illogical accelerations, or braking on a straight. That's why the organizers are already looking for solutions.
As reported by The Race, the Championship will propose changes to the teams after the race in Shanghai this Sunday (08:00, DAZN). The new hybrid system of the engines makes the cars overly reliant on electric power, requiring drivers to manage the battery continuously, resulting in unnatural driving. This is precisely what they aim to correct.
According to a mechanic from the Championship who spoke to EL MUNDO, there are three proposals on the table. The first would be to increase the super-clipping, that is, the capacity to recover electric energy faster, so that the batteries charge more quickly. The second would be to reduce the maximum power so that the batteries last longer, albeit at the cost of lower top speeds. The third would be to increase the use of combustion engines to reduce the dependence on the electric system. All options are quick to implement, although none are straightforward.
"We have to discuss this after China, once we have more data on the table," said Nicholas Tombazis, FIA's single-seater director, with hope that the Shanghai circuit will help. The first race of the year was in Melbourne, precisely one of the most demanding tracks for batteries, and this Sunday should be more enjoyable. With more intense braking, drivers will have to worry less about the electric system and will be able to drive more comfortably.
Ultimately, everything depends on them. Formula 1 is a team competition, but fans follow the stars. Thanks to the work of Liberty Media —and Netflix—, the championship has made a strong impact in markets like the United States, and this growth needs to be protected. In Australia, criticisms from champions like Max Verstappen or Lewis Hamilton raised alarms, especially when the Dutchman hinted at a possible retirement. Organizers must introduce changes for the protagonists to regain their smiles, but they also have to think long-term.
Gasoline Formula 1 will not return. Manufacturers want the investment in development demanded by the Championship to translate into sales in road cars, and there are increasingly more electric cars on the roads. By the end of 2025, 25.1% of vehicles in the European Union were electrified —electric or hybrid— and in Spain, 18.7%. This year, attracted by the engine change, Audi and Cadillac have joined, and the interest of BYD, the largest Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer, is being considered.
That's why the balance is so tricky: the changes must satisfy the drivers but not at the expense of reverting to pure combustion. Additionally, the impact of the modifications on the teams, with Mercedes as a possible loser and McLaren and Red Bull as potential beneficiaries, remains to be seen. For now, in Shanghai, this Sunday, everything will remain the same: exaggerated overtaking, stationary cars, and strange maneuvers on the Chinese circuit.