We're three races deep into the new Formula 1 season, which has brought with it a whole new set of regulations for the cars and their engines that have proven controversial among fans and drivers alike. Whether they love it or hate it, most of the drivers have a single reference point: these new real-life cars are a whole lot like Mario Kart.
This year, F1 cars have moved to 50/50 hybrid engines, with exactly half the power provided by conventional combustion, and half provided by electric power. Like hybrid road cars, the racing vehicles recharge their electric batteries during stretches when the combustion engine is not in full use, but unlike standard hybrids, drivers can in certain situations press a button to use that extra electrical energy for a big boost in top speed.
F1 has had similar sorts of boost systems in place to help cars pass each other on track for ages, but the new boost mode differs in just how dramatic the effect is. Teams and drivers that have seen early success under the new regulations seem pretty pleased, while those struggling to adapt have tended to be much more critical.
"This is like the mushroom in Mario Kart," as Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc told his engineer over the radio during a session earlier this month. His engineer waited over 20 seconds before responding in absolute deadpan, "That was a funny one." Leclerc has been putting that "mushroom" to pretty good use this season, and the Mario Kart comparisons are certainly catching on.
In this past weekend's Japanese Grand Prix, Haas driver Oliver Bearman suffered a nasty crash – thankfully without any major injury – when he seemingly misjudged his boost speed while trying to pass another car. While reviewing the incident with Leclerc, McClaren driver Oscar Piastri said "I finally see what you mean about the mushroom. It's pretty accurate."
Nobody's been more critical of the new regulations than four-time F1 World Champion Max Verstappen. "I found a cheaper solution," Verstappen joked in a recent press conference. "I swapped the simulator for my Nintendo Switch and [I'm] practicing a bit of Mario Kart, actually. Finding the mushrooms is going quite well. The blue shell is a bit more difficult, but I'm working on it. The rocket, hm, still not there. The rocket is coming."
Our list of the best racing games has plenty for both the Mario Kart and traditional motorsports fans.
