P1racenews AI automatic summary:
The F1 cars will undergo a significant change this year as fresh power units come into play.
1997 F1 champion Damon Hill expressed concern about how drivers will handle the new power units this year, with a 50/50 split between electric output and combustion engine now in place due to a major regulation change.
During a recent shakedown event in Barcelona, drivers tested the power units and began implementing new techniques like downshifting at the end of straights when the battery runs out.
Hill warned that this could create issues during wheel-to-wheel racing, especially as drivers will need to recharge their batteries at the end of straights, leading to potential speed disparities.
The importance of battery deployment might lead to more overtaking in unconventional spots, which could make the racing different from what fans are used to watching.
Hill acknowledged that F1 will provide graphics to help viewers understand the state of each car, but admitted that it will be interesting and possibly confusing to follow from the outside.
