The extensive overhaul of the rules of Formula 1 for 2026 presents a challenge to all teams and engine manufacturers, but it also applies to drivers.
Charles Lakeler has said that new cars feel “very different” Based on their first simulator run, while Alex Albon said that F1 gets much more complicatedDrivers will have to manage more, indicate Williams Team Boss Boss James Walls to Warn of a high charge behind the wheelIn addition, new cars will require a different driving style, for which Williams has set up a special work group to help customize drivers.
“But first, albon and other drivers have not yet run the final rules as per the definition, as they have not yet been done,” Nicholas Tombazis replied during an interview with Autosport. “The second thing is that if you do not automate some parts, there will be an increased burden on drivers. This is true.”
However, it is one of the subjects that are currently evaluating the FIA. “A part of the work that is still to be done between the beginning of now and the next season, determine how much items will be in the background, let’s more automatic say, how much the vs. driver will have to control.”
No chess, but not only a steering wheel and paddle
With per -lap, active aerodynamics, manual overred mode and many other variables per energy management, there will be more parameters to deal more and more than today.
“We don’t want to overburdon the driver with something,” said Tombazis. “But at the same time there should be a degree of freedom at the same time, to ensure that he can attack, defend and be something of that stuff. But to ensure that there will be some part of it that will be managed transparently for him, so he does not need to think about whether cornering or something like this.”
Nicholas Tombazis, FIA Single Seater Director
Photo: Andy Hon / Motorsport Images
The FIA expects to find an acceptable balance in the coming months. “I think there is a balance to strike between driving like a chess game of energy management, which we do not want as an extreme, and then the second extreme where driving is just a steering wheel, a throttle pedal and a break pedal,” Tombazis said.
He also clarified that the FIA either does not aspire to later. F1 should not be very simple. “We need to find a good way in the middle.”
Can smart drivers actually “misuse” the new rules?
Albon said that in his view, smart drivers could “misuse” the new rules, although a week after his initial comments, he laughed and said: “The word ‘abuse’ ended as a headline everywhere, but I did not necessarily mean it negatively.”
Williams driver clarified that drivers who have mental bandwidth leave just beyond driving, can get competitive benefits in 2026.
“But I think the smart driver is already strong. F1 includes one percent in the performance we are seeing nowadays,” Tombazis said.
“And this is not just now, the mental bandwidth of the drivers has already been a factor for the last 20 years – even in the short days of my career, when I was working with Shumakar for example.
Alexander Albon, Williams
Photo by: Alastair Steel / Late Image with Getty Images
“I mean, obviously he was unprecedentedly talented, but a large part that separates him was that he could also think of all these other things during a race.
“You know that there are some of the current drivers that seem a little extra to think about other things, while some others have to use all their CPUs to drive a car.”
In 2026, this challenge may be more, but Tombazis believes that drivers can handle it. “These drivers are the best driver in the world, and they have a fairly high bandwidth of intelligence. They can deal with some problems.”
According to Tombazis, it is the one that should be F1, unless it oversees the basic things.
“There is a level of understanding that they need these parameters,” he said. “We think it is part of what a top driver has to do. It is not, however, and we will ensure that it is not the main skill.
“The main skill is still able to break at the right point, to go fast around the corner, to find the boundary, to choose the right lines, etc. which will still be the main parameter that controls who controls who is good and who is bad. I will not be able to drive the car!”
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