Younger drivers might be quicker to adapt to 'speed chess' 2026 F1 regulations - Antonelli

Kimi Antonelli says racing with the 2026 cars will require drivers to try and be two steps ahead of their rivals, and likened the challenge to playing "speed chess".

New power unit regulations provide a roughly 50:50 split between internal combustion and electrical power, with drivers able to use an overtake mode when within a second of the car in front. On top of that, a manual boost override button allows them to change their power deployment to attack or defend during a race, and Antonelli believes younger drivers may have a slight advantage adapting to the new style of fighting.

“Coming into this year with a new car it's kind of good because obviously we've been used to driving a different car every year, so we've been used to trying to adapt as quickly as possible to a new car,” Antonelli said. “So of course on that side it's good that we have a new car this year because it's a reset for everyone, and especially for us that we've been used to a new car every year.

“So maybe it will help us out to understand the car a bit quicker than others, but of course the other drivers are not stupid and they're pretty good! So I think they will figure it out very quickly as well.

“But also with all this energy management, the way you race, the way you have to use your energy while fighting with others, also that is a very big step. I think this year you have to come into the season very open-minded, and in some ways you need to be very creative as well, because you can play so much with the energy, especially when when fighting other people.

“It's like playing chess, but like kind of a speed chess. Obviously you don't have as much time to think for every move, but this year you always have to try and be two steps ahead of the others. Especially when fighting, when you're planning an overtake or when you're defending you always have to try and be two steps ahead of the other and trying to predict him or force him to do something.

“So there's a lot to play with, and that's why I think this season you have to be really open-minded and as I said before even creative at times.”

While the Mercedes drivers felt the lower downforce levels of the 2026 cars also made for less of a loss for a following driver, Esteban Ocon disagrees and says his first impressions are the new rules could make overtaking even tougher.

“I've been following a few cars,” Ocon said. “You seem to lose quite a lot of front load, a bit more maybe than before, but we need to see.

“And the overtake, yes, I played with it. I don't want to give too early conclusions on how it's going to be because obviously it needs to be adjusted, optimized, etc. for that to work in a perfect way. But so far it looks to be difficult to pass. That’s my first thought about it, but I hope it's going to get on the easier side.”