F1 Drivers Voice Concerns Over Mario Kart-Style ‘Mushroom’ Boosts

A speed boost can be a thrilling addition in a racing game, but real-life Formula 1 drivers are finding it a bit more challenging to handle.

With the 2026 regulations, F1 has introduced a feature that drivers are likening to the iconic mushroom power-up from Mario Kart. This change has sparked controversy and may have played a role in a significant crash during the Japanese Grand Prix on March 29.

This “mushroom” speed boost is a strategic element of racing. The FIA’s new rules aim to align Formula 1 with its Net Zero goal, significantly cutting emissions by 2030—a daunting task for a sport that transports teams and equipment worldwide for over 20 races each year.

One major contributor to carbon emissions is fuel, and the latest generation of cars leans even more on electric power compared to the previous hybrid models. The new engines feature a 50/50 balance between internal combustion and battery power. Throughout the race, drivers are constantly charging and using energy from the car’s battery. The mechanics are straightforward: driving at full throttle drains power, while braking or easing off the gas helps recharge the battery.

However, drivers have some control over how they use this stored energy, leading us to the “boost” button. This button, located on the steering wheel, allows drivers to unleash all that accumulated electrical energy for a speed surge.

“This is like a mushroom in Mario Kart,” Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc remarked over the radio during the season opener in Australia.

The boost can be strategically deployed for both offense and defense, allowing drivers to either unleash it all at once or spread it out over a lap. So far, reactions have been mixed.

“I found it very fake, to be honest,” Sergio Perez shared with a reporter. “You overtake, and then you get overtaken. Mario Kart style.”

Many drivers have voiced frustrations about times when they lacked enough battery power to race as they normally would. The Australian Grand Prix featured a back-and-forth duel between George Russell and Charles Leclerc, where they repeatedly swapped positions.

While such battles should be exhilarating, the reality is that drivers were taking turns using these new power-ups, which can diminish the excitement when a brilliant overtake is quickly followed by the same car being overtaken due to depleted power.

“I swapped the simulator for my Nintendo Switch,” four-time world champion Max Verstappen joked with the media before the Shanghai Grand Prix. “I’m practicing with Mario Kart, actually. Finding the mushrooms is going quite well, [finding] the blue shells is a bit more difficult.”

Verstappen, a passionate gamer who enjoys sim racing in his downtime, has been one of the most outspoken critics of the new rules. He often hints at stepping away from the sport, a sentiment that seems increasingly plausible as he made his GT3 debut last year and is set to compete in the Nurburgring 24 Hours this May.

“I see what you mean about the mushroom,” Oscar Piastri said to Leclerc in the cooldown room after the Japanese Grand Prix.

The drivers were reviewing highlights from the race, which included a shocking high-speed crash involving Haas driver Ollie Bearman.

Bearman was gearing up to pass Franco Colapinto in a section of the track where Colapinto was slow due to energy harvesting. When Bearman hit the boost, he surged toward Colapinto with an additional 45 KPH of speed, according to post-race analysis.

Bearman had to take evasive action onto the grass, crashing through several signs before slamming into a tire barrier at 50Gs. The car was severely damaged, and Bearman was seen limping away with assistance from marshals. Fortunately, he only suffered a knee contusion.

“It was a massive overspeed, 50 KPH, which is part of these new regulations that I guess we have to get used to,” Bearman commented. “But I also felt like I wasn’t really given much space given the huge excess speed that I was carrying.” Colapinto appeared to have moved off the racing line as Bearman approached, and commentators noted that even a small defensive maneuver can have significant consequences on the narrow Suzuka track.

“That is basically what you get with these things; one guy is completely stuck with no power, and then the other one uses the mushroom boost,” Verstappen told reporters after the race. “If it is all about safety, then it is easy to fix things. You can use ‘safety’ for a lot of stuff, so maybe we should use the word ‘safety’ for it, and finally make some changes.”

The incident was reviewed, and neither driver was deemed at fault. Haas team principal Hayao Komatsu expressed hesitation in labeling it an error on Bearman’s part.

“This is only the third race under these regulations, so that’s something he’s never experienced,” Komatsu noted.

The crash intensified drivers’ concerns about this Mario Kart-style racing. With the cancellation of races in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, the FIA announced it would hold meetings to evaluate the new regulations and consider any necessary adjustments.