Formula 1 Barcelona-Catalunya Pre-Season Testing

Martin Brundle fears 2026 F1 will feel less "raw" as battery management takes over

Brundle believes the new powertrains will make energy management a central part of race strategy this season

Martin Brundle has warned that Formula 1's 2026 cars will demand constant energy management from its drivers, adding that this change pushes the championship away from the "raw" wheel-to-wheel racing fans are looking for.

Speaking during the Barcelona testing coverage from Sky Sports F1 this week, the former driver-turned-pundit analysed the first meaningful mileage that came from the 11 teams ahead of the season start in Melbourne.

This week brings fans their first look at the 2026 regulation cars. And while usual testing caveats remain, there's plenty to be said about how these more electric energy-based powertrains will change how drivers race.

Brundle argues that this will result in the grid focusing more on energy deployment and recovery than attacking.

Discussing the subject with colleagues Ted Kravitz and Craig Slater, the former Benetton driver was asked whether this new focus on energy deployment would 'spoil the drivers' fun'.

“Well, I think the toothpaste is long out of the tube on that one, Ted, to be honest," Brundle admitted as he compared this to the use of KERS from 2009. "That's the way it is in Formula 1 now with electronics - as it is with road cars - and the complex aerodynamics and simulators and what have you.

"So that's what we have.

“The best drivers will make the best use of the tools. And I'll tell you something: Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher, bless them both, would love that all of these tools available to them to make something out of them. And they always did.

"Whether it was active or semi-automatic 'boxes or the setup of the cars. They always made the best of whatever tools - they were pretty rudimentary back then.

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin

Photo by: Aston Martin Racing

"But as a racing driver, whatever you're driving, wherever, you find the limit of the grip and you drive to it, or you drive just over it if you can. And it's a series of lefts and rights and straights, and that's what you do."

He continued, adding that a little more data for those watching would be a good idea to help understanding. "I think it'll be super important for the teams in Formula 1 to give us accurate real-time data on the batteries so that we understand, if there's overtakes, why? If some driver's been clever through a series of bends and giving himself some more power."

Returning to the original question, the experienced commentator believes we are long past the time of "raw" racing.

"Is it as raw as literally elbows out, Senna versus Mansell type stuff? No, it's not. But as I say, the toothpaste is out of the tube on that one and we're not going to get it back in. So, we've got to make the best of what we've got."