Formula 1’s new engine era debuts in dramatic Australian GP

The opening race of Formula 1’s new technical era in Australia delivered intense on-track battles and a surge in overtaking, but drivers and team leaders left Melbourne divided over whether the sport’s new technology is improving racing or making it more artificial.

The first race under Formula 1’s new engine regulations at the Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne produced excitement and uncertainty in equal measure, according to an analysis by BBC. 

George Russell claimed victory in the season opener, but even the race winner expressed mixed feelings about the sport’s new direction.

Teams and drivers arrived at the opening round nervous about how the regulations — which split power evenly between internal combustion and electrical systems — would affect racing. Concerns included new driving techniques, large speed differences between cars depending on battery deployment, and the risk of dangerous situations on track.

In the end, the race delivered dramatic early action. Russell and Charles Leclerc battled for the lead over the opening 10 laps, repeatedly overtaking each other using the new “boost” and “overtake” modes.

According to Formula One statistics, the race featured 125 overtaking manoeuvres — nearly three times the 45 passes recorded in the same event last year.

But the increase in overtaking has also raised questions about what kind of racing fans are seeing.

Russell described his early duel with Leclerc as “dicey.”

Leclerc, who eventually finished third behind Russell and Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli, said the constant management of electrical power “will definitely change the way we go about racing and overtaking.”

Not all drivers were critical. Lewis Hamilton, who finished fourth behind his Ferrari team-mate Leclerc, said he “loved it, the race was really fun to drive”.

Others were more cautious. Reigning world champion Lando Norris warned the system could create dangerous situations on track.

“It's chaos,” he said. “You're going to have a big accident, which is a shame. You're kind of driving and we're the ones just waiting for something to happen and something to go quite horribly wrong, and that's not a nice position to be in.

“Just depending on what people do, you can have a 30, 40, 50 km/h speed (differential), and when someone hits someone at that speed, you're going to fly and you're going to go over the fence and you're going to do a lot of damage to yourself and maybe to others. And that's a pretty horrible thing to think about.”

Four-time champion Max Verstappen also voiced reservations about the new style of racing.

“I do want it to be better than this,” he said.

The new technology allows drivers to deploy large bursts of electrical power, but doing so quickly drains the battery. This can leave them vulnerable to being overtaken moments later when energy levels drop.

Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur said the early battle for the lead was unlike anything seen in recent years. “I'm not sure that I saw something like this the last 10 years.”

Still, concerns remain across the paddock. Teams have agreed to review the rules after the first three races of the season to determine whether adjustments may be needed.

As the championship heads to the next round in China, the opening race has made one thing clear: Formula 1’s new era may bring more action, but it has also opened a debate about what racing should look like.

By Sabina Mammadli