Lando Norris has admitted his previous praise for Formula 1's new cars was deliberately misleading, revealing he wanted to test fan reactions. The McLaren driver said he initially called the cars "a lot of fun" last week but now admits they represent "not the purest form of racing." His comments come amid growing driver criticism of the 2026 regulations.

Norris said he agreed with Max Verstappen's assessment that the new cars don't feel like traditional F1, though he still enjoys driving them. The changes have created complex energy management requirements, with drivers focusing more on battery optimization than pure racing. Norris explained that much of the driving now centers on getting the battery to work properly rather than extracting maximum performance from the car itself.

Several drivers, including Williams' Carlos Sainz, have called for regulatory flexibility as teams adapt to the new rules. The increased electrical power output and battery constraints have led to counter-intuitive driving strategies during qualifying. Sainz suggested staying open-minded about potential adjustments, particularly for energy-demanding circuits like Melbourne and Jeddah, as the sport navigates this significant technical shift.