Hill: F1's New Rules Make Racing Exciting

0:00On March 30th, 1996, Formula One Champ, Damon Hill, is pushing back on the gripes about the new 2026 rules. He says even if some drivers hate lifting and coasting to save battery power, the racing at the Japanese Grand Prix turned out tactical, smart, and straight up fun to watch. Those 2026 regs are shaking things up from the jump. Take the season opener in Australia, there were 120 overtakes compared to just 45 the year before in 2025. It's forcing drivers to think ahead, not just mash the gas. Drivers and fans have mixed feelings, but Hill and his old teammate, Jacques Villeneuve, see the upside. Villeneuve called it interesting rather than pulse pounding, especially at Tsuzuka, where races used to be boring, follow the leader stuff. Now we're seeing actual position swaps, overtakes, and even re-overtakes, which Hill notes is rare in this sport. Shout out to McLaren's Oscar Piastry for stealing the show in Japan. After sitting out Australia and China, he started third and snagged second place, looking hungry all weekend.

1:06Hill loves seeing McLaren step up. Overall, the seasons off to a strong start with three different teams in the top three spots, and at least six drivers who could grab a win. It's keeping things wide open and exciting for everyone tuned in. Stay locked in with F1 News today, AI-powered updates. I'm Corey with The Story.