F1 2026: A New Way to Race

Esteban Ocon, a driver for Haas F1, thinks the upcoming 2026 F1 cars will change everything drivers know about speed. These new cars have active aerodynamics and stronger hybrid engines. This is a big deal because F1 hasn't had such a huge change in a long time. Ocon recently tried out his Haas VF-26 car in a simulator. He said driving these new cars will be very different. Drivers will need to focus more on managing the engine and hybrid systems. He even joked that drivers might have to forget everything they learned since they started racing in go-karts.The new cars have a lot more grip, which is good. But the big change is in the engine. Ocon said this will be the key to going fast. He's excited about the challenge but knows it will take time to get used to the new driving style. Ocon has been in F1 for a while. He started driving F1 cars back in the V8 engine era. He thinks his experience will help him adapt to the new rules. But he knows everyone will need to learn new things and think differently while driving. The first race of the 2026 season is still a ways off. Ocon thinks the pecking order might change a lot at first. Teams will be making updates and improvements, so it will take time to see who is really the fastest. He advises teams to take points early but also be ready for changes later in the season.