F1 drivers eviscerate new cars at Australian GP - what's going wrong and is there a quick fix?

"We've come from the best cars ever made in Formula 1 and the nicest to drive to probably the worst. It sucks, but you have to live with it and just maximise what you get given. It's certainly different. It's certainly not like it was last year."

"New rules have introduced hybrid engines with a 50-50 split between combustion and electrical power, resulting in an added focus on managing battery levels, which is sometimes at the expense of driving through corners well below the usual limit. Startling footage went viral during Friday's practice of cars losing power while at full throttle."

"Four-time world champion Max Verstappen, the man who has frequently teased the prospect he will quit the sport should he ever stop enjoying himself, said he was 'not having fun at all driving them,' later telling Dutch media he's felt 'no emotion' inside the cockpit so far this week."

Formula 1's new regulation era debuted in Melbourne with disappointing results. The opening qualifying session failed to showcase the sport's future, instead producing uninspiring running and widespread driver criticism. New world champion Lando Norris described the cars as among the worst ever made in F1, while Max Verstappen stated he was not having fun driving them. The new regulations feature hybrid engines with 50-50 combustion-electrical power splits, requiring extensive battery management that compromises cornering performance. Drivers experienced power loss during acceleration as hybrid systems switched to energy recovery modes. While the aerodynamic designs appear visually improved, the underlying mechanical changes have created significant dissatisfaction among competitors.

Read at ESPN.com