Lando Norris finished fifth at Suzuka but expressed frustration with the 2026 power unit regulations after experiencing what he described as "yo-yo" racing. The McLaren driver explained how battery deployment during overtakes leaves him powerless, unable to control when his energy system activates, resulting in immediate counterattacks from rivals.

Norris detailed a specific incident where he overtook Lewis Hamilton at the final chicane, only to have his battery deploy entering 130R corner. This forced him to lift off throttle, causing the battery to drain completely and allowing Hamilton to retake position on the following straight. Norris emphasized drivers are "at the mercy" of power units rather than maintaining control.

Max Verstappen corroborated Norris' assessment, highlighting how Suzuka's layout with long straights and minimal corners to recharge batteries makes strategic overtakes nearly impossible. The Red Bull driver explained deploying energy on one straight leaves nothing for the next, creating inefficient racing that looks good on television but lacks authenticity from the driver's perspective.

The criticism comes despite McLaren showing progress with Norris' fifth place and Oscar Piastri's strong result. Both drivers hope the FIA acknowledges these issues, as current regulations create artificial racing scenarios where driver skill is secondary to power unit management.