F1 drivers’ WhatsApp group chat revealed after voting on new laws
Formula 1 drivers have been vocal in their criticism of this season’s cars and the new 2026 regulations, with an F1 star disclosing drivers voted on the changes via a WhatsApp group chat
Valtteri Bottas revealed the F1 drivers WhatsApp chat(Image: Chris Graythen, Getty Images)
Cadillac driver Valtteri Bottas has revealed there is a Formula 1 drivers’ WhatsApp group where voting took place regarding the 2026 regulations. Several drivers have slammed this season’s cars for being powered by hybrid engines and depending on more electrical energy than previously.
DRS has also been replaced with ‘overtake mode’, and battery management has become a vital aspect of racing, resulting in considerably more overtaking; nevertheless, critics have argued it is artificial. The worries have since been addressed following a series of meetings between F1 stakeholders in April.
Amongst the rule modifications made include a reduced recharge in qualifying, increased super-clipping power to reduce duration, a boost cap of +150 kW, and aids to slow race starts. And Bottas acknowledges he backs the changes, particularly those that address closing speeds at corners, following Ollie Bearman’s 50G crash at Suzuka in late March.
JOIN US ON FB! Get all the best sports news and much more on our Facebook page
Speaking to the media ahead of this weekend’s Miami Grand Prix, he said: “All the new adjustments to the rules – it makes sense. I think it’s in the right direction in terms of trying to have less gaps with the closing speeds, perhaps a little bit less aggressive clipping at the end of the straights, so that makes sense. I think it’s still quite a small step, but a step into the right direction.
“I mean, you could do a bigger change, but at the same time, I think what is tricky is that I understand that you don’t want to penalise any teams that have done well.”
“You don’t want to make changes that would change the order of the teams or anything like this. Mid-season, doing big, big changes it’s quite tricky so I think it’s a good first step.”
The Finn was later quizzed about the part the drivers played in altering the 2026 regulations ahead of Miami. The 36-year-old disclosed that votes were cast in a group chat.
He continued: “Yeah, so we, all drivers, we have this group chat on WhatsApp. So we’ve been communicating there quite a lot and especially after Japan.”
“We did some votes and stuff like that, but everything is kind of aligned. I think everyone agrees it’s stepped in the right direction. But now we need to see these things in action. But I think all the drivers are aligned.”
“It’s sometimes only a couple of drivers that speak to the FIA, but normally they speak on behalf of all of us, the GPDA (Grand Prix Drivers’ Association).”
