Alpine driver Pierre Gasly has expressed concerns that Formula 1's 2026 regulations could reduce drivers' control, making them feel like passengers in their cars. He highlighted the increased automation in power units and aerodynamics as key factors. Gasly shared these thoughts during a recent session in Bahrain.
Formula 1 is set for significant changes with the 2026 regulation overhaul, introducing more automation in energy management and aerodynamics. Alpine's Pierre Gasly warned that these updates might limit drivers' influence over the car, potentially turning them into passive participants.
The new power units will require a 50-50 split between internal combustion engine and electrical power. While drivers can select settings, the car's systems will handle the actual energy harvesting. Active aerodynamics, which can automatically adjust to prevent errors in corners, further shifts control to software.
Gasly discussed the challenges during a media session in Bahrain last week. "There is so much to take into consideration at the moment that it is difficult to get my head around it," he said. In previous eras, drivers could anticipate rivals' engine deployments, allowing strategic racing decisions. For instance, committing more power on one straight would lead to drawbacks elsewhere.
However, the 2026 setup complicates this. "What is harder to figure out is what the other engine manufacturers are doing; they might deploy more in one straight, or less in another, and this will create bigger differences in racing situations where you have both cars at full power with straight line mode on," Gasly explained. This unpredictability could reduce slipstream effects and speed differences.
Gasly acknowledged that mental sharpness might still offer advantages in energy management for identical engines, but much remains out of drivers' hands. "So it feels like we are more on the passenger side with what we can do inside the car," he admitted. He noted variations between engines—some may permit more improvisation than others—but doubted it would be straightforward.
To navigate these uncertainties, Gasly suggested a practical approach: "There is so much we want to answer, but we need to discover proper racing scenarios, and what I suggest is qualifying on pole, and life will be a lot easier starting from there."
These concerns arise as teams prepare for the evolving technical landscape, with testing ongoing to understand the implications.
