Holy Cow! 26 Quali - slow start push lap, cold tyre covers & no balls out runs

[John S]

Is this really what we're in for this season? - The Race.com seems to think so!!! 

I'm a bit gloomy now about the first race in Aus. 

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/all-the-qualifying-quirks-f1-teams-will-be-grappling-with-in-2026/

[Jericoke]

One thing I haven't liked about the 'hybrid' powertrains was this whole X power per lap, that the car could have energy stored, but not be allowed to use it until they hit the start/finish line.

I'd like to let the drivers just harvest what they can, deploy when they want, and let the engineers figure out the best way to do both (within the regulations, of course).

Perhaps my biggest complain would be, they really should be able to have enough 'boost' (or whatever you call the electric power) to last 2 laps.  Both in qualifying and the race, we get this up/down rhythm, it would be fantastic if the drivers really could put in two consecutive 'full power' laps.  It would add strategy to the race, it would add spectacle to qualifying.

[lkjohnson1950]