From within the Formula 1 bubble, it’s easy to lose perspective on the fact that the cars competing in any given Grand Prix are still the fastest racing machines on the planet. F1’s current punching bag du jour for drivers and fans is battery management required by the new technical regulations. Audi driver Gabriele Bortoletto thinks F1 is still special and his colleagues should stop constantly complaining. Brazilians do not believe that the current formula is correct, but there cannot be any significant changes until the next rules are introduced.
The subjective negatives of the 2026 rules outweigh the objective positives. In general, cars are lighter and more agile. However, discussion revolved around onboard footage of drivers lifting and cornering the car through high-speed corners. The sights, sounds and spectacle are arguably more important than competitive parity for a vocal contingent of fans. Perception is reality. If the field was full of screaming V10 engines they would happily sign up to watch a race with no passing and a driver winning by half a minute. British Grand Prix, after Bortoletto told autosport: :
“I don’t think we’ve lost the magic of the game,” Bortoletto said. “We’re still driving fast through the copse. It’s 280 (km/h), so I’m still taking lift to get to that corner. It’s not that easy, it’s not like you’re like, ‘Oh, we’re not using all our grip.’
Nobody wants F1 to just complain for three years in a row
The debate on 2030 technology rules is already underway. Mohammed Ben Sulayem, FIA President and Chief Administrator for life, initially wanted F1 to adopt a V10 engine formula, abandoning any form of hybridisation. It’s important to remember that F1’s rule-making power is also split between the FIA, F1’s commercial rights holder, and the teams. Other stakeholders panned Ben Sulayem’s fever dream, but are open to V8 engines for 2030. Drivers may not have a vote, but they will actively use their platform to change public opinion. Bortoletto said on this subject:
“Obviously, it was a different concept last year, but I think we should turn the page. We’re following the same rules now. If people are still complaining about it, just delete the page. If I understand correctly, these are the rules we have until 2030.”
“But we can’t spend three years talking about the same problems every time, you know, because that’s what we have. It’s still fun to drive cars. It’s different. We need to embrace it and that’s life.”
Fans should always take complaints from drivers regarding technical regulations seriously. Four-time F1 champion Max Verstappen threatened to retire if things don’t change. He is still here. In June, F1 announced that the balance between combustion and electric power would change over the next two seasons. Unless they’re stepping into the fastest car in the paddock every weekend, every driver has a vested interest in changing the rules. Every change is an opportunity for his team to gain an edge over their rivals.
Although cars should have more battery capacity, it’s hard to complain about having more batteries than ever before. Complaints about “yo-yo” racing are just an excuse for some aggressive drivers who are bad at managing their energy. Nostalgia has blinded people to the fact that every era of F1 had its own obstacles behind the wheel. F1 stars in the 80s had to manage fuel with their thirsty turbocharged V6 engines and their cars were less reliable.
