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Martin Brundle critical of “fundamental” F1 flaw highlighted by Lando Norris
Martin Brundle has concerns that a long standing Formula 1 regulation is being broken with the current generation of cars.
Martin Brundle has raised a “fundamental” problem with the 2026 Formula 1 machinery after drivers numerous drivers have been vocal in their criticisms across the opening three rounds of the season.
The new era of F1 has been met with a mixed reception, with the number of overtakes increasing dramatically, but many of these being labelled as “artificial”, with drivers unable to defend their positions due to the limited battery deployment available.
However, Japan saw McLaren’s Lando Norris add a new category, with an ‘accidental’ pass on Lewis Hamilton in the closing stages.
The reigning champion said: “I didn’t even want to overtake Lewis, it’s just about when the battery deploys, and I don’t want it to deploy, but I can’t control it. So I overtake him, and then I have no battery, so he just flies past.”
He added: “The problem is, it deploys into 130R. I have to lift, otherwise I’ll drive into him, and I’m not allowed to go back on throttle.
“If I go on throttle, my battery deploys, and I don’t want it to deploy because it should have cut. But because you lift and you have to go back on, it redeploys. There’s nothing I can do about it.”
Former driver turned commentator Brundle now believes that the FIA must look into this issue and make a change, citing a regulation that has “been around for forever” as his reasoning.
Speaking on The F1 Show, he said: “I think the problem the drivers have got; one thing that really worried me was Lando Norris saying ‘I didn’t want to overtake Lewis Hamilton, but my battery decided it did, and then I had nothing to defend with’.
“Now, there’s a regulation in Formula 1, it’s been around for forever, it’s very simple and far-reaching. The driver must drive the car alone and unaided.
“The drivers shouldn’t have any surprises by a self-learning car. They’ve got to get rid of that. I’m sure it’s not the work of a moment, but the power delivery must be proportional to what the drivers are doing with the throttle.
“That’s the fundamental. It has to be linear. It’s a big issue for the FIA.”
The issue has further been highlighted this season with drivers sliding in qualifying, needing to lift slightly, and then being helpless to prevent their batteries from being instantly drained, costing them time and grid positions.
It was also a factor in Ollie Bearman’s heavy crash in Japan, with Franco Colapinto travelling 50kph slower than the Haas driver who was chasing him down, despite being flat out.
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Martin Brundle has concerns that a long standing Formula 1 regulation is being broken with the current generation of cars.
Martin Brundle has raised a “fundamental” problem with the 2026 Formula 1 machinery after drivers numerous drivers have been vocal in their criticisms across the opening three rounds of the season.
The new era of F1 has been met with a mixed reception, with the number of overtakes increasing dramatically, but many of these being labelled as “artificial”, with drivers unable to defend their positions due to the limited battery deployment available.
However, Japan saw McLaren’s Lando Norris add a new category, with an ‘accidental’ pass on Lewis Hamilton in the closing stages.
The reigning champion said: “I didn’t even want to overtake Lewis, it’s just about when the battery deploys, and I don’t want it to deploy, but I can’t control it. So I overtake him, and then I have no battery, so he just flies past.”
He added: “The problem is, it deploys into 130R. I have to lift, otherwise I’ll drive into him, and I’m not allowed to go back on throttle.
“If I go on throttle, my battery deploys, and I don’t want it to deploy because it should have cut. But because you lift and you have to go back on, it redeploys. There’s nothing I can do about it.”
Former driver turned commentator Brundle now believes that the FIA must look into this issue and make a change, citing a regulation that has “been around for forever” as his reasoning.
Speaking on The F1 Show, he said: “I think the problem the drivers have got; one thing that really worried me was Lando Norris saying ‘I didn’t want to overtake Lewis Hamilton, but my battery decided it did, and then I had nothing to defend with’.
“Now, there’s a regulation in Formula 1, it’s been around for forever, it’s very simple and far-reaching. The driver must drive the car alone and unaided.
“The drivers shouldn’t have any surprises by a self-learning car. They’ve got to get rid of that. I’m sure it’s not the work of a moment, but the power delivery must be proportional to what the drivers are doing with the throttle.
“That’s the fundamental. It has to be linear. It’s a big issue for the FIA.”
The issue has further been highlighted this season with drivers sliding in qualifying, needing to lift slightly, and then being helpless to prevent their batteries from being instantly drained, costing them time and grid positions.
It was also a factor in Ollie Bearman’s heavy crash in Japan, with Franco Colapinto travelling 50kph slower than the Haas driver who was chasing him down, despite being flat out.
Martin Brundle has raised a “fundamental” problem with the 2026 Formula 1 machinery after drivers numerous drivers have been vocal in their criticisms across the opening three rounds of the season.
The new era of F1 has been met with a mixed reception, with the number of overtakes increasing dramatically, but many of these being labelled as “artificial”, with drivers unable to defend their positions due to the limited battery deployment available.
However, Japan saw McLaren’s Lando Norris add a new category, with an ‘accidental’ pass on Lewis Hamilton in the closing stages.
The reigning champion said: “I didn’t even want to overtake Lewis, it’s just about when the battery deploys, and I don’t want it to deploy, but I can’t control it. So I overtake him, and then I have no battery, so he just flies past.”
He added: “The problem is, it deploys into 130R. I have to lift, otherwise I’ll drive into him, and I’m not allowed to go back on throttle.
“If I go on throttle, my battery deploys, and I don’t want it to deploy because it should have cut. But because you lift and you have to go back on, it redeploys. There’s nothing I can do about it.”
Former driver turned commentator Brundle now believes that the FIA must look into this issue and make a change, citing a regulation that has “been around for forever” as his reasoning.
Speaking on The F1 Show, he said: “I think the problem the drivers have got; one thing that really worried me was Lando Norris saying ‘I didn’t want to overtake Lewis Hamilton, but my battery decided it did, and then I had nothing to defend with’.
“Now, there’s a regulation in Formula 1, it’s been around for forever, it’s very simple and far-reaching. The driver must drive the car alone and unaided.
“The drivers shouldn’t have any surprises by a self-learning car. They’ve got to get rid of that. I’m sure it’s not the work of a moment, but the power delivery must be proportional to what the drivers are doing with the throttle.
“That’s the fundamental. It has to be linear. It’s a big issue for the FIA.”
The issue has further been highlighted this season with drivers sliding in qualifying, needing to lift slightly, and then being helpless to prevent their batteries from being instantly drained, costing them time and grid positions.
It was also a factor in Ollie Bearman’s heavy crash in Japan, with Franco Colapinto travelling 50kph slower than the Haas driver who was chasing him down, despite being flat out.
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