Gabriel Bortoleto has defended Formula 1 drivers’ adaptability amid criticism that the 2026 car changes impose a new racing style, insisting that every top driver can master the new power‑unit dynamics.
Driver Adaptation Amid a 47‑53 Electric‑to‑Internal‑Combustion Split
The 2026 regulations set a 47‑53 split between electric and internal‑combustion power. This balance forces a new emphasis on battery management, making energy deployment a key race‑skill alongside traditional driving.
Energy Management Becomes a New Race‑Skill
Terms such as “superclipping” have surfaced as drivers learn to optimise battery use. At the Belgian Grand Prix, Oscar Piastri was caught off‑guard by his power unit’s self‑learning elements that abruptly altered his driving, a scenario that illustrates the emerging loss of driver control.
Bortoleto Rejects the “Driving Style” Label
“I don’t think I changed much my way of driving,” Bortoleto said after the Hungarian GP, while emphasising that drivers “should be able to adapt to any type of car.” He added that “fine‑tuning” remains essential, such as adjusting energy deployment at corners to take advantage of power‑cell performance.
Champions Stay Competitive Despite New Rules
When asked whether fast drivers would falter under the new regulations, Bortoleto praised the season’s leaders: “Do you see Verstappen, Leclerc, or Hamilton being slow? I don’t see them.” He noted that Max Verstappen, Lando Norris, Lewis Hamilton, and Charles Leclerc continue to perform at the front, and that “the 22 drivers in the world doing Formula 1 can still master the cars.”
With 2027 regulations on the horizon, the conversation over driver skill versus car technology remains alive; however, the top 22 drivers demonstrate that adaptability still drives the sport’s competitive edge.
Photo by Andy Hone / LAT Images via Getty
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