George Russell Raises Concerns Over 2026 Formula 1 Cars’ Speed and Safety
In the wake of the draft chassis and aerodynamics regulations for the 2026 Formula 1 season being unveiled, George Russell, a director of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA), has expressed concerns over the potential risks associated with the low downforce configuration on the straights. With movable aerodynamics set to be introduced to conserve energy in the hybrid power units, Russell believes the 2026 F1 cars could reach speeds of up to 360km/h, which may lead to a heightened risk in certain conditions.
“You can imagine in a race that it starts raining and you’re on slick tyres, and you’re doing 250 miles an hour on a street circuit. That’s going to be a bit of a sketchy place to be, so these are questions that need to be answered.”
Russell, who has been vocal about safety concerns in his role representing the interests of fellow drivers, highlighted the potential dangers of reaching such high speeds, particularly in wet conditions. The Briton acknowledged that the history of Formula 1 has often led to safety implications being addressed only after incidents occur, rather than proactively. As a result, Russell emphasized the need for thorough planning and preparation ahead of the 2026 season to mitigate potential risks.
“Everybody needs to do a really thorough job ahead of these regulations, because the cars are going to be so quick.”
Aside from safety concerns, Russell also discussed the driving characteristics that will arise from the 2026 regulations. With F1 and the FIA striving to improve the racing spectacle, the potential reduction in downforce generated by the new cars could lead to lower cornering speeds. Russell was torn between the desire for high-performance F1 cars and those capable of closer racing.
“From a driving standpoint, you want the fastest cars, you want to feel like you’re in a fighter jet… But on the flip side, it will improve the racing if there’s less downforce and there’s less dirty air.”
Ultimately, Russell emphasized the need to strike a balance between performance and racing spectacle. “You can’t have it all and you’ve got to choose your battles. What is it that we want to achieve? For me, you want to have good, hard racing, and strong competition, ideally, between every team and every driver,” he concluded.
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