The violent crash involving Oliver Bearman’s Haas during the Japanese Grand Prix has sparked a heated debate about the safety of the new F1 cars. Attention has focused on the huge differences in straight-line speed between cars, caused by hybrid power management. During a press conference, Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc spoke candidly about the situation, calling for responsibility from F1 drivers and minor regulatory tweaks.
Speed warning: “Dangerous scenarios”
The Monegasque driver did not mince words when describing the current risk level on track, pointing to a critical issue triggered by the drastic reduction in electric power at the end of Suzuka’s long straights. “Without a doubt, with these new cars we are required to race differently. One of the key issues concerns changes of direction or evasive moves precisely at the moment when strong clipping occurs. This is a factor that inevitably generates rather dangerous scenarios,” Charles Leclerc explained.
Rules verdict for 2026: “I enjoy the race, but in qualifying…”
On the regulatory front, ahead of the FIA meetings planned in Miami, the Ferrari driver shared a balanced perspective. Charles Leclerc enjoys Sunday racing dynamics but criticizes the excessive energy saving required on Saturdays: “Whether it is necessary to completely overhaul the race dynamics, I couldn’t say. Comparing opinions in the paddock, views are mixed, but personally, the sporting aspect and Sunday duels are what I enjoy. As for qualifying, however, small tweaks are absolutely necessary: we need to be able to push these cars to the absolute limit without the constant nightmare of worrying about energy saving.”
Self-critique: “Defending drivers must be more careful”
Finally, Charles Leclerc emphasized that adapting to these edgy new cars starts with the drivers’ own style, recalling battles with Mercedes in previous races: “Regarding the race, I believe it also depends on us making adjustments in the way we fight and defend. We must keep in mind that speed differentials can now be significantly larger, and this responsibility primarily falls on the defending car compared to the attacker. I also experienced some tricky moments in Australia battling George Russell. I believe the situation will improve over time and with experience, but it certainly remains a very challenging aspect to manage.” – the Monegasque driver concluded.
Charles Leclerc therefore believes that while the 2026 racing product is exciting, the safety implications of energy “clipping” cannot be ignored. Based on his feedback, the responsibility for safety currently lies with the defending driver, though he hopes the FIA will address the energy constraints that currently hamper the “flat-out” nature of F1 qualifying.
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