Martin Brundle has raised alarm bells over Formula 1âs 2026 rules after Lando Norris claimed his car overtook Lewis Hamilton without his input.
Stressing that it is âfundamentalâ that battery deployment and what the driver demands from the throttle match, Brundle urges that the FIA must come up with solutions. Oliver Bearmanâs high-speed crash was the principal incident generating debate around the rules among drivers. Formula 1 and the FIA will meet for discussions during April.
Martin Brundle warns FIA must act after Lando Norris battery overtake
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Three rounds into Formula 1âs new era, the prominent role played by battery harvesting and deployment continues to serve as a key talking point, and concern for various drivers, including Max Verstappen, Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz.
Formula 1âs governing body, the FIA, issued a statement at Suzuka, spelling out its plans to evaluate the regulations over April, after Haasâ Oliver Bearman crashed out heavily at Spoon during the race. Bearman had closed in rapidly on a slower-moving Franco Colapinto in the Alpine.
But rather than this incident, it was something else that âreally worriedâ Brundle, the former F1 driver turned Sky F1 pundit, was Norris commenting that he had unwillingly overtaken Hamiltonâs Ferrari.
âI didnât even want to overtake Lewis, itâs just about the battery deploys, and I donât want it to deploy, but I canât control it. So I overtake him, and then I have no battery, so he just flies past.â
With a section of the drivers having put concerns over F1 2026 into the public domain, Brundle says that the FIA must ensure change for the season resumption in Miami.
Speaking on Sky F1âs âThe F1 Showâ podcast, Brundle said: âOne thing that really worried me was Lando Norris sang, âI didnât want to overtake Lewis Hamilton, but my battery decided it did, and then I had nothing to defend withâ.
âNow, thereâs a regulation in Formula 1. Itâs been around forever. Itâs very simple and far reaching. The driver must drive the car alone and unaided.
âThe driver shouldnât have any surprises by a self-learning car. Theyâve got to get rid of that.
âIâm sure itâs not the work of a moment, but the power delivery must be proportional to what the driver is doing with the throttle. Thatâs a fundamental. It has to be linear.
âItâs a big issue for the FIA.
âDriver safety is sacrosanct, of course. But I think theyâre actually fourth in line in terms of priorities.
âThe top priority is the fans, because theyâre paying to be there. They havenât bought into any element of risk, and they have to be protected.
âNext up is the marshals, the corner workers, because theyâre not being paid to be there, but they assume an element of risk because theyâre trackside.
âNext up, for me, the pit-stop crew, in terms of priorities.
âAnd finally, the drivers. The cars are pretty safe.
âEverybodyâs health and safety is sacrosanct.
âBut the FIA will now have to make a change for Miami, because the drivers have voiced this. Itâs very much out there. I would be pretty certain theyâve put that in writing through the Grand Prix Driversâ Association as well.
âSo if a car flies into the crowd now and they havenât done something, shown some due diligence on this, then the FIA will be in for the high jump. So they will now have to do something and listen to the drivers.
âBut weâre hamstrung. Weâve got a motor that churns out three times its electrical power compared to last year, and the battery depletes in any given decent straight. So weâre painted in a corner. Weâre between a rock and a hard place, really, on this, because the hardware is just not up to it.
âAnd weâve talked about this for a couple to three years now. We knew it was going to be like this.
âSo this is fundamentally flawed, but I think they should be able to smooth some of these elements out.â
More on F1 2026 from PlanetF1.com
FIA issues statement on 2026 rules after Oliver Bearman crash concerns
Max Verstappenâs inspired solution to force F1 2026 rule changes
But, while the new rules have not impressed all drivers, Brundle says that the majority of fans who he has spoken to, are very much enjoying the close racing which is being produced.
An interesting reveal, considering that Brundle placed the fans as priority number one.
âFans Iâve met, I take a lot of trouble at the moment to say, âWho do you support? Are you enjoying F1 this season?â
âItâs a Marty poll, and nothing more, of random people I meet, or friends and family, and they say, âYeah, weâre enjoying it. Weâre enjoying this close racingâ.
âThatâs the feedback Iâm getting.â
Want to be the first to know exclusive information from the F1 paddock? Join our broadcast channel on WhatsApp to get the scoop on the latest developments from our team of accredited journalists.
You can also subscribe to the PlanetF1 YouTube channel for exclusive features, hear from our paddock journalists with stories from the heart of Formula 1 and much more!
Stressing that it is âfundamentalâ that battery deployment and what the driver demands from the throttle match, Brundle urges that the FIA must come up with solutions. Oliver Bearmanâs high-speed crash was the principal incident generating debate around the rules among drivers. Formula 1 and the FIA will meet for discussions during April.
Martin Brundle warns FIA must act after Lando Norris battery overtake
Want more PlanetF1.com coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for news you can trust.
Three rounds into Formula 1âs new era, the prominent role played by battery harvesting and deployment continues to serve as a key talking point, and concern for various drivers, including Max Verstappen, Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz.
Formula 1âs governing body, the FIA, issued a statement at Suzuka, spelling out its plans to evaluate the regulations over April, after Haasâ Oliver Bearman crashed out heavily at Spoon during the race. Bearman had closed in rapidly on a slower-moving Franco Colapinto in the Alpine.
But rather than this incident, it was something else that âreally worriedâ Brundle, the former F1 driver turned Sky F1 pundit, was Norris commenting that he had unwillingly overtaken Hamiltonâs Ferrari.
âI didnât even want to overtake Lewis, itâs just about the battery deploys, and I donât want it to deploy, but I canât control it. So I overtake him, and then I have no battery, so he just flies past.â
With a section of the drivers having put concerns over F1 2026 into the public domain, Brundle says that the FIA must ensure change for the season resumption in Miami.
Speaking on Sky F1âs âThe F1 Showâ podcast, Brundle said: âOne thing that really worried me was Lando Norris sang, âI didnât want to overtake Lewis Hamilton, but my battery decided it did, and then I had nothing to defend withâ.
âNow, thereâs a regulation in Formula 1. Itâs been around forever. Itâs very simple and far reaching. The driver must drive the car alone and unaided.
âThe driver shouldnât have any surprises by a self-learning car. Theyâve got to get rid of that.
âIâm sure itâs not the work of a moment, but the power delivery must be proportional to what the driver is doing with the throttle. Thatâs a fundamental. It has to be linear.
âItâs a big issue for the FIA.
âDriver safety is sacrosanct, of course. But I think theyâre actually fourth in line in terms of priorities.
âThe top priority is the fans, because theyâre paying to be there. They havenât bought into any element of risk, and they have to be protected.
âNext up is the marshals, the corner workers, because theyâre not being paid to be there, but they assume an element of risk because theyâre trackside.
âNext up, for me, the pit-stop crew, in terms of priorities.
âAnd finally, the drivers. The cars are pretty safe.
âEverybodyâs health and safety is sacrosanct.
âBut the FIA will now have to make a change for Miami, because the drivers have voiced this. Itâs very much out there. I would be pretty certain theyâve put that in writing through the Grand Prix Driversâ Association as well.
âSo if a car flies into the crowd now and they havenât done something, shown some due diligence on this, then the FIA will be in for the high jump. So they will now have to do something and listen to the drivers.
âBut weâre hamstrung. Weâve got a motor that churns out three times its electrical power compared to last year, and the battery depletes in any given decent straight. So weâre painted in a corner. Weâre between a rock and a hard place, really, on this, because the hardware is just not up to it.
âAnd weâve talked about this for a couple to three years now. We knew it was going to be like this.
âSo this is fundamentally flawed, but I think they should be able to smooth some of these elements out.â
More on F1 2026 from PlanetF1.com
FIA issues statement on 2026 rules after Oliver Bearman crash concerns
Max Verstappenâs inspired solution to force F1 2026 rule changes
But, while the new rules have not impressed all drivers, Brundle says that the majority of fans who he has spoken to, are very much enjoying the close racing which is being produced.
An interesting reveal, considering that Brundle placed the fans as priority number one.
âFans Iâve met, I take a lot of trouble at the moment to say, âWho do you support? Are you enjoying F1 this season?â
âItâs a Marty poll, and nothing more, of random people I meet, or friends and family, and they say, âYeah, weâre enjoying it. Weâre enjoying this close racingâ.
âThatâs the feedback Iâm getting.â
Want to be the first to know exclusive information from the F1 paddock? Join our broadcast channel on WhatsApp to get the scoop on the latest developments from our team of accredited journalists.
You can also subscribe to the PlanetF1 YouTube channel for exclusive features, hear from our paddock journalists with stories from the heart of Formula 1 and much more!
