Lewis Hamilton downplays impact of new F1 rule tweaks

Lewis Hamilton does not expect major changes in car behaviour following the FIA’s latest updates to the 2026 regulations. During Thursday’s media day in Miami, the Ferrari driver acknowledged the effort made by the FIA and Formula 1 to address weaknesses in the rule set, but admitted he is unsure how much the new measures will influence racing.

The April announcement introduced revisions affecting qualifying, race procedures, starts and wet‑weather running, most of which will already apply from the Miami Grand Prix. While several drivers welcomed being consulted, others, including Max Verstappen, Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll, expressed scepticism about the real impact of the changes. Hamilton echoed that caution, noting that early simulator sessions offered little difference in feel. He added that the true effect will only become clear on track, hoping the updates may still improve racing despite his initial impression that “everything felt pretty much the same.”