Leclerc Laments New F1 Regulations Impact on Qualifying: Is the Magic Fading?

Leclerc and Ferrari are enjoying a positive start to 2026, comfortably the second quickest car on the grid behind the dominant Mercedes.

The Scuderia has adapted well to the new technical regulations, with a smaller turbo than rivals coupled with a strong battery allowing Ferrari to remain in contention at the front of the field.

However, Leclerc indicates that qualifying might be losing some of its appeal, suggesting that the new rules are affecting how fast laps are developed.

While there are concerns about the artificiality of the on-track action, Leclerc dismisses these claims, believing that the knowledge gained by the teams is leading to a greater understanding of battery deployment.

"I enjoy it, and it doesn’t feel so artificial from inside the car," Leclerc told media, including Motorsport Week.

The Monegasque driver acknowledges that although there have been interesting overtakes, qualifying might need adjustments to regain its essence.

The Chinese Grand Prix featured overtakes in a multitude of places, as drivers, including Leclerc, gained confidence in their driveability.

However, Leclerc revealed his major concern about the new cars, hinting that the current spectacle is not in the style that Formula 1 should be.

"Today was showing the smaller, lighter cars as well, a bit more agile, also a little bit easier to go around the outside. It’s not those super high downforce cars that we used to have in the past," Leclerc commented.

Leclerc’s comments indicate that qualifying has been impacted by the new rules, with super clipping having unintended consequences on push laps.

Suzuka is a vastly different circuit to Shanghai, with sweeping technical sections that could expose the severe battery deployment issues and yet further impact the qualifying spectacle.

These statements suggest the need for Formula 1 to review and adjust the regulations to ensure that the excitement and competitiveness of qualifying remain intact.