Racing
© Jonathan Borba
Liam Lawson called the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka mentally draining as the new cars forced nonstop energy-management choices that produced frequent "yo-yo" passes. He still climbed from 14th on the grid to ninth at the flag, banking a point after a late defense.
The 2026 regulations have reshaped how drivers race. Power units now split output roughly 50:50 between the internal combustion engine and the electric system. The cars are smaller and lighter. They carry active aerodynamics. Drivers also have a boost button for short bursts of extra power. The package puts more weight on battery deployment and race strategy than before.
That shift has created a clear pattern through the early events. A driver makes a move using stored energy, gets ahead, then runs low on the next straight. The car behind, having saved more energy, blasts back past. Several drivers describe it as an artificial rhythm that repeats from lap to lap. The effect is most visible in long flat-out sections where energy use and harvest shape speed more than tire life.
Lawson’s run at Suzuka showed how that plays out. He lost out off the line to Bortoleto, then took the place back on the following straight by deploying more battery. The rest of his race followed the same logic. He qualified 14th, then picked his moments to push and to harvest. He managed to reach ninth, where the battle became about timing and restraint more than pure pace. In the final phase he held off Esteban Ocon by out-deploying him at the right points of the lap to secure a point.
He said the mental load is high under the new rules. Drivers now think about energy almost every corner. They weigh when to spend, when to save, and how much to leave for the next straight. They try to pass without leaving themselves exposed a few seconds later. Teams feed advice over the radio, but many calls fall to the driver in the car. Lawson described this as draining, and he framed it as part of the sport’s new race craft.
The tools built into the 2026 cars shape that craft. Active aerodynamics change drag levels and influence where and when it makes sense to deploy energy. The lighter chassis respond quickly to throttle and brake, which can help harvesting but also punishes misjudged spends. The boost button gives a clear attacking option, yet spending too much at once can trigger the same pass-back pattern a corner later. The margin between a clean pass and a costly counterattack is narrow.
Across the grid, teams and drivers are still refining tactics. They study how much battery to carry to each straight, how to blend combustion and electric power, and how to defend without emptying the pack. Early races have shown that the fastest lap time is not always the best plan if it leaves a car exposed on exits. That trade-off has made wheel-to-wheel battles look busier, with more swaps and set-ups over several laps rather than one decisive move.
Suzuka highlighted both sides of this landscape. Lawson’s climb from 14th to ninth showed that smart deployment can unlock progress. The frequent exchanges, including his early duel with Bortoleto and late defense from Ocon, showed how often passes can bounce back the other way under the current energy flow. Lawson summed it up as a mentally hard day shaped by a new balance of power and planning that now defines 2026 racing.