There is a fascinating split in Formula 1 over how to handle the wet, and Lewis Hamilton is not shy about pointing it out. As Motorsport.com reports, the seven-year world champion has noticed a distinct chasm in expectations between the veterans of the grid and the younger generation.
Sepang brought the first significant competitive running for F1's new-for-2026 machinery, and a downpour soaked the track just before the start. The ensuing delay lasted 40 minutes, followed by a field fitted with intermediate tyres and struck by an infamous software glitch. But for 41-year-old Hamilton, the reluctance goes deeper than the machinery. While old-school drivers are eager to race, the youngsters are increasingly cautious. Hamilton recalled his great wet races like 2008, pointing out that drivers back then had more testing and better wet tyres through Bridgestone development. He loves the sheer challenge of driving by the seat of the pants when conditions turn wild.
Not everyone sees the delay as a mistake, however. Carlos Sainz, the 32-year-old Spaniard, reckons the timing from race direction in Malaysia was spot on. Everyone agreed it was raining too hard initially, and the green light came at the right moment. The failure that followed came down to external factors rather than a lack of willingness to race.
For 22-year-old Hadjar, the new electrical-heavy power units made wet driving an entirely different beast. Having slid off into the gravel on the formation lap, the Frenchman pointed to a software issue creating unpredictable power kicks alongside intermediate tyres that struggle with standing water. It is a far cry from how he grew up racing.
Meanwhile, 36-year-old Sergio Perez, driving a Ferrari-powered Cadillac, found the software side much more manageable. Because drivers can control the kilowatt output—adjusting from 350kW down to 250kW or 200kW—Perez believes it is simply up to the driver to handle the kick.
With the Singapore Grand Prix looming and a small chance of rain forecasted for the event, wet-weather racing is bound to be a talking point once again.
