Former driver and Formula 1 commentator Martin Brundle believes legendary champions like Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher would have relished the new F1 regulations. Formula 1 stands on the eve of a new era in 2026, with cars that will be smaller and lighter yet employ complex hybrid systems and active aerodynamics. A proper banquet for the champions of old, according to Brundle.
From the start of the new season, Formula 1 will move to smaller, lighter cars. The DRS system will be replaced by active aerodynamics on both the front and rear wings. Perhaps the most significant change is the new power unit: output will now be split evenly between an internal combustion engine and a larger battery. Drivers can deploy the hybrid system for boost and overtaking, but they will also have to manage the recharging of their electrical reserves.
The first reactions after the private shakedown in Barcelona are mixed; drivers describe ‘quirks’ or liken the new cars to Formula 2. At the same time there are positive comments about the steering. The cars are said to be more predictable and, with their smaller footprint, better through high-speed corners. Still, there are fears the new regulations could be unworthy of F1. At a recent McLaren event presented by Martin Brundle, the former driver aimed to calm the fans’ concerns.
‘There was always something to protect’
“If you go full throttle for long stretches, you have to protect the machinery,” he began. “That’s always been the case, whether you’re talking Moss and Fangio or Stewart and Hill. Back then it was the drive shafts, universal joints, gearboxes and engines. In the 1980s we carried 220 litres of fuel, so even then we’d lift off occasionally to make the finish. I once lost a podium in Adelaide because I ran out of fuel. There’s always something to look after; these days tyres are the obvious example.”
“I think the best drivers — think Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher — would have embraced these F1 regulations,” Brundle continued. “Precisely because they would have been able to exploit every option to the fullest. Those who understand how to use those options simply extract the maximum from the cars. Protecting your universal joints and your brakes is now protecting your battery. The rest of the car is virtually indestructible. So the challenge hasn’t changed,” he concluded. “What worries me is that we’re now used to four or five brilliant overtakes per race. We don’t want it to turn into a basketball game with endless passing. But personally I don’t think we’ve lost the essence of Formula 1.”
See the F1 calendar for 2026 here
