The reigning F1 champion has been among the more vocal drivers questioning the direction of the 2026 regulations, which introduce a revised power unit concept featuring a near 50-50 split between internal combustion power and electrical energy.
While the changes were designed to attract manufacturers such as Audi, Honda, General Motors and Ford, Norris believes the result risks damaging the quality of racing on track.
Speaking about the current direction of the sport, Norris said F1 should prioritise closer racing rather than energy management games.
“Having good racing is not having someone at full battery and someone at zero,” he explained. “That is not how proper racing should be done. We need cars that can follow closely, less weight, better tyres and less reliance on systems doing the work for us.”
He argued that modern cars rely too heavily on active aerodynamics and energy deployment, creating what he described as “yo-yo racing”, where gaps constantly open and close depending on battery usage rather than driver skill alone.
Norris believes the solution lies in simplifying the machinery rather than adding more complexity. He pointed to go-karting as the clearest example of the racing style he wants F1 to recover.
“In go-karting you have no dirty air, no complicated systems, just racing,” he said. “You can follow closely, slipstream, and race hard in a line of cars. That is what we should be aiming for.”
While acknowledging the commercial and manufacturer pressures behind the current rules direction, Norris insisted drivers are continuing to push for improvements that benefit both competitors and fans. He added that the FIA is “doing a good job” in trying to refine the regulations.
Attention now turns to the next round of the season, the Canadian Grand Prix, held at the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve from May 22 to May 24, where the current generation of cars will once again be tested on one of the most demanding layouts on the calendar.
