P1racenews AI automatic summary:
F1 drivers should have a more critical role to play in races with everything the 2026 rules require them to manage. But one of them is concerned there won’t be “much freedom”
Formula 1’s 2026 regulations, focusing on new energy management tactics, aim to elevate the significance of a driver’s role in the races.
Some anticipate that strategic energy harvesting, well-timed battery boosts, and tactical overtaking maneuvers will be key elements for success, favoring smart and adaptive racers.
Top figures like world champion Lando Norris and Mercedes’ Toto Wolff foresee the potential for more unpredictable and chaotic races due to differing approaches in energy usage among drivers.
However, former F1 world champion Fernando Alonso is skeptical about these assumptions, pointing out that the sport’s intricate regulations and pre-race simulations limit the scope for individual talent to shine.
Alonso highlighted the tight restrictions, such as energy derating rates and activation zones for overtaking modes, imposed by the FIA, ultimately minimizing the drivers’ freedom to showcase their skills.
While acknowledging the sport’s shift towards energy efficiency, Alonso nostalgically expressed that the thrill of driving at the limit, prevalent in older F1 eras, may be compromised in the pursuit of heightened efficiency in modern racing.
