Sergio Perez joins chorus criticizing F1's new regulations

Sergio Perez has become the latest high-profile driver to criticize Formula 1's new technical era, bluntly stating that "nobody is happy" with the current state of the sport and that the regulations are "not good for the show." His comments come after a disastrous day for the new Cadillac team at the Chinese Grand Prix, where technical issues sidelined him from sprint qualifying.

Why it matters:

Perez's critique adds significant weight to a growing chorus of dissatisfaction, led by reigning champion Max Verstappen, about F1's direction. When veteran drivers from both established and new teams voice similar concerns about the spectacle and technical complexity, it signals a potential disconnect between the rulemakers' vision and the on-track product that teams, drivers, and fans actually experience.

The details:

• Perez explicitly called for discussions on the sport's future, stating, "Definitely, we need to discuss what we can do for the sport," but acknowledged that achieving consensus among all ten teams would be "very difficult."
• He expanded his criticism beyond the drivers, suggesting unhappiness is widespread: "I don't think anybody is happy with the current Formula 1 that we have. I don't think the fans, the drivers, the teams."
• A Difficult Debut: Perez's weekend in Shanghai was marred by problems. After finishing at the bottom of the timesheet in the sole practice session, a fuel system issue identified too late prevented him from participating in sprint qualifying.
• Team Struggles: Teammate Valtteri Bottas also faced challenges, finishing as the slowest car in SQ1 due to a significant deployment issue, highlighting the teething troubles for the new American outfit.
• Cadillac's Chief Technical Officer, Nick Chester, framed the issues as part of the team's learning curve, noting they are "finding issues and fixing them in real time."

What's next:

The public criticism from multiple drivers increases pressure on the FIA and Formula 1 to review the impact of the 2026 regulations, which aim for a 50-50 power split between combustion and electrical energy. While change is logistically challenging, the unified driver sentiment may force earlier discussions about adjustments to improve racing and the show. For Cadillac, the immediate focus is on reliability, with Perez confirming the team is "working really hard at the track and back at the factory" to find solutions and become a consistent competitor.