Lewis Hamilton has detailed how the “pressure” thrill he receives from wheel-to-wheel racing combat in F1 is missing from some races.
Drivers have had to adapt to a new way of going racing in 2026, with 50% of their power coming from the beefed-up battery systems, a rise from around 20% in 2025.
This means that they have had to balance the urge to use all their available power against the risk of being vulnerable to attack from a rival, with circuits such as Monaco and Hungary ideal for this style of racing given the heavy braking zones and slow nature of the layouts allow for the batteries to constantly be recharged.
However, on the flip side, it has meant fast circuits such as Albert Park, Suzuka, Silverstone, and Spa have seen their challenge reduced, with Fernando Alonso even branding the fast-flowing sections such as the Esses at Suzuka or Maggots and Becketts at Silverstone as “charging stations” for the cars.
Addressing the situation, Hamilton described how it “completely upsets me” how the racing skill has been diminished.
“No, it completely upsets me,” Hamilton explained to media, including RacingNews365, about the devalued challenge of circuits such as Suzuka, Silverstone, and Spa.
“These are the tracks that I look forward to. Monaco is a stunning place and a beautiful country, and an amazing track for a qualifying lap, no matter what car you drive.
“But it is the least enjoyable race because you can’t overtake, and for me personally, I just race.
My excitement is not qualifying; it is racing. It is battling with people and wheel-to-wheel racing, having to try and outdo and outsmart the drivers you’re racing with, the pressure, defending and all that kind of stuff.
“That is racing, that’s what I look for, and so when you go to races and can’t do that, it is not the most satisfying.”