Lewis Hamilton says a weight discount of 30kg for Components 1’s next-generation designs is a step in the correct route however will depart vehicles “nonetheless heavy”.
The FIA unveiled on Thursday an outline of the 2026 technical specs to which groups will design the game’s future contenders.
The governing physique and Components 1 have labored in direction of producing a “nimble automotive” idea, or lighter, extra agile and highly effective machines that higher cater to a drivers’ expertise.
Over the previous decade, Components 1 vehicles have ballooned in weight, gaining over 100kg in ten years to weigh in at a hefty 798kg, a rise attributed to the rising complexity of energy items and the addition of security options.
The consequence has been vehicles that drivers really feel are sluggish and cumbersome.
Acknowledging these issues, the FIA has introduced a 30kg weight discount for the 2026 season, bringing the minimal weight right down to 768kg.
Hamilton admits it’s a constructive step, however the seven-time world champion want to see vehicles slim down additional.
“It’s solely 30 kilos so it’s getting into the correct route but it surely’s nonetheless heavy,” the Briton mentioned in Montreal on Thursday. “So, I imply I’ve solely simply seen what you’ve all seen this morning.
“I don’t actually have big ideas on it simply but, spoke to some drivers who’ve pushed it on sim as I haven’t pushed it on the sim, they mentioned it’s fairly gradual.
“So we are going to see whether or not it’s truly the correct route or not.”
Whereas Hamilton had blended emotions on Components 1’s weight discount, Fernando Alonso was downright skeptical over the game’s capacity to strip 30kg from its vehicles by 2026.
“I believe it’s unattainable most likely to attain 30 kilos already,” commented the Aston Martin driver.
“If the facility unit is 50% electrical and also you want the batteries to assist that, vehicles will simply enhance 20 or 30 kilos due to the facility unit.
“And you then wish to cut back 30 [kg] – it is advisable to drop 60 kilos of the present automotive, which is similar as for the time being, most likely to the groups [it’s] an unattainable goal.
“They’ve two years to attain that concentrate on and as at all times in Components 1, what’s unattainable in 2024 will turn out to be actuality in 2026 as a result of there are very intelligent individuals within the groups.
“However I believe all is a consequence of one thing else that’s within the vehicles.”
Williams Alex Albon confirmed what Hamilton has heard concerning the “extraordinarily gradual” speeds of the 2026 vehicles as sampled within the simulator.
“Let’s examine. I do not wish to communicate out of flip, however it should be very gradual, extraordinarily gradual,” the Anglo-Thai racer mentioned.
“I am guessing there’s a variety of stuff being finished round ensuring the straight-line speeds will not be really fizzling out on the finish with the entire MGU-Ok and whatnot being concerned.
“I nonetheless assume there must be some work finished. Seeing the velocity traces round a number of the tracks… it is fairly gradual.
“The scale of the vehicles, I believe is the correct route,” Albon added. “Clearly, it appears to be that to recuperate what these new engine laws are creating, every thing turns into extraordinarily difficult. I would reasonably simply have a bit extra easy engines.”
Concerning F1’s next-generation energy items, Hamilton famous as soon as once more the constructive transfer in direction of 100% sustainability.
“I believe when it comes to sustainability on the PU facet it’s a daring step and the correct route,” he mentioned.
“We’ve simply obtained to verify the vehicles are environment friendly, quick and a pure step ahead, and really racing is improved.”
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