F1 | Haas: Bearman criticizes 2026 regulations despite seventh-place finish in Australia

The debut of the world championship of Formula 1 2026 on the track of theAlbert Park he handed over to the Haas an important result, but it also triggered the debate on the validity of the new technical standards. In a weekend dominated by the Mercedes Benz, with a brace from Russell e Antonelli, the American team was able to insert itself authoritatively into the central group, conquering a precious seventh place with Oliver BearmanBehind the smile of his first six points of the season, the young British talent did not hide his deep frustration with the racing dynamics imposed by the new power units and active aerodynamics.

The Ferrari academy driver, who started from the twelfth spot on the grid with medium tyres, was able to manage a complicated first lap and then climb back up the ladder thanks to a correct management of the revs. Virtual Safety Car. While the teammate Esteban Ocon Battling chronic rear-end instability that relegated him to eleventh place, Bearman showed solid pace, confirming the quality of the work done by Haas over the winter. Yet, just at the moment of maximum competitive effort, the limitations of a regulation that seems to have made overtaking is more of an accounting operation than a pure instinct.

The Boost Trap: The Overtaking That Isn't There

The crux of Bearman's criticism lies in the effectiveness of the new overtaking system, which replaced the traditional DRS with complex management of the energy boost. If last year the delta guaranteed by the mobile wing allowed them to close the gaps in a few laps, today the drivers find themselves prisoners of aerodynamic slipstreams that almost completely cancel out the electrical advantage. Bearman described the difficulties encountered in the duel against Arvid Lindblad, lasted over twenty laps.

“I certainly can't describe the battle I experienced on the track as exciting, given that I remained stuck in that position for at least twenty or thirty laps – said the EnglishmanThe situation is complex: the advantage you can gain by activating boost mode, or rather overtaking mode, is reduced to just a tenth of a second, while the disruption you suffer by staying in the slipstream makes you lose much more time. At that stage of the race, frustration was truly at its highest levels."

“I had excellent pace and felt I could have had more, but Arvid defended himself with extreme skill, exploiting every ounce of his car's performance, and I give him credit for that. It was unnerving to be stuck a second behind, also penalized by their power unit, which is decidedly powerful on the straights. If we look back at last season, with the DRS system you could really gain ground; on this track the advantage was six tenths, compared to a difference needed to complete the maneuver of about nine tenths.”

“Now the gain is only a tenth, while still maintaining the same gap needed to pass. It took me forever to pass him, when with the old rules I would have done it in three laps. It was all very frustrating, although I must admit that in the first two laps, when I used the boost button without much strategy, I was literally flying down the straights, passing everyone. It was quite fun at the time, but it's a dynamic that fades as the race stabilizes.”

A chorus of dissent: the regulation under accusation

Bearman's words add to a chorus of criticism that has engulfed the Melbourne paddock since the first sessions. The phenomenon of "Super Clipping," the brutal cut in electrical power mid-straight, is turning overtaking into artificial maneuvers. As already highlighted by pilots of the calibre of Verstappen e Norris, Formula 1 seems to have lost its identity in favor of an energy management that rewards economy over attack.

The disappointment remains for a show that appears stiff. The difference in speed between those charging their batteries and those using the booster creates situations that many insiders define as dangerous, with speed differentials exceeding 40 km/h at the fastest points of the track.

The glass half full: the satisfaction of the points earned

Despite the regulatory concerns, the sporting result remains a crucial confidence boost for Haas. Bearman wanted to recognize the efforts of the mechanics and engineers who delivered a reliable car in an era of extreme technical fragility. Analyzing the overall result, he added:

“It was undoubtedly a great race for us. Despite a less than perfect first lap, we were able to maintain an excellent pace that allowed us to make several overtakes, so I'm deeply satisfied with the performance we put in today. Starting this new regulation cycle with a result like this is a special feeling; for the team, finishing first behind the top teams is a fantastic achievement. We certainly benefited from the retirements of some rivals ahead of us, but points are earned on the track, and we were ready to collect them. I'm truly proud of this team: finishing seventh is the definitive proof that validates all the sacrifices and hard work we've put in over the past few months.”

Of the opposite opinion, however, Esteban Ocon, who experienced a Sunday of technical difficulty: “The prevailing feeling today is disappointment, because with the excellent start we had, the points were absolutely within our reach. Unfortunately, as the laps went by, the pace dropped significantly, and I had to contend with severe instability in the rear of the car. It's frustrating, because I'm convinced the car's potential was much greater than it showed. Despite the difficulties and the need for significant improvement, this weekend allowed us to accumulate a wealth of data. We'll see how things evolve at the next round, but in the meantime, I'm happy with the points the team earned here in Melbourne, a fitting reward for how we prepared during the winter break.”