New F1 2026 rules receive positive approval from Bortoleto, but start worries Audi driver

Fórmula 1 announced last Monday, April 20th, important changes to its regulations for the 2026 season. The changes aim to address growing complaints from drivers related to classification, energy management and safety on the tracks. Brazilian driver Gabriel Bortoleto, from the Audi team, who has already had contact with the new guidelines in the simulator, evaluates the modifications as a “step in the right direction” for the category.

The measures implemented by Federação Internacional of Automobilismo (FIA) come at a time of strong debate about the dynamics of races and the experience of competitors. Pilotos like Max Verstappen even classified the current cars as “anti-racing”, demonstrating the level of dissatisfaction. The revised rules are expected to help mitigate battery management issues and promote more natural disputes.

Gerenciamento of energy from a new perspective

Energy management has been one of the most criticized points by drivers this season, generating the need for complex strategies to charge the single-seater battery. Gabriel Bortoleto, in an interview, confirmed that the first impressions of the new rules in the simulator were encouraging. “The FIA ​​took some actions thinking about what the drivers asked for in these first stages. We know that there is a lot of news in these regulations, so they are trying to do it in a way that the classification, mainly, is a little more natural”, explained the Audi driver.

Excessive energy management has impacted both qualifying and racing, forcing competitors to adopt techniques that compromise fluidity and speed. The changes seek to reduce the frequency with which pilots need to “save” energy. The problem of insufficient battery recharging has led to the use of two main tactics to increase charge:

• Lift and coast:Consiste takes his foot off the accelerator before the expected braking point on the straights, taking advantage of the deceleration to generate energy.
• Superclipping:Permite that the battery continues charging even when the driver has the accelerator pedal fully depressed, seeking to optimize energy recovery during sections of maximum acceleration.

Essas practices, although necessary under the previous rules, resulted in large speed differences on unusual sections of the track, raising safety concerns. An example of this was the heavy accident involving Oliver Bearman in Grande Prêmio of Japão, an incident that highlighted the urgency of adjustments to the regulations. Bortoleto, however, demonstrates confidence that the new guidelines were a success. “Obviously, I’ll only know if it worked when I’m on the track in Miami. Até now, I haven’t tested the car with the new regulations, but in the simulator, at least, it has worked. Tem was a step in the right direction, in my opinion”, concluded the driver.

Desafios from Audi at the start of the race

Além of the power management issues, Federação Internacional of Automobilismo also proposed changes related to starts. The main modification involves the implementation of a new system capable of identifying cars with “abnormally low” acceleration on the track. Esse system will issue warnings to other competitors about the problem, aiming to increase safety and fluidity in the first moments of the races.

Race starts have been one of the main sticking points for the Audi team this season. In a survey of the first four races of the year, which include the three main stages and the sprint race in the China, Gabriel Bortoleto and his teammate, Nico Hulkenberg, lost a combined total of 23 starting positions. Desse number, 19 positions were wasted by the German driver, highlighting the team’s initial fragility. The situation led to intense analysis and development work by the team.

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However, Gabriel Bortoleto highlighted that, even with the FIA’s changes to the starts, Audi does not expect to benefit directly from these changes. Segundo the Brazilian, the problems faced by the team are not related to cars “dying” at the start, but rather to other aspects that need to be resolved internally. “I don’t think we will benefit if there are any changes to the rules, especially because we haven’t had any problems with the car stalling at the start. We have suffered some other problems that have nothing to do with this”, explained Bortoleto.

The team has been dedicated intensely to solving these specific challenges. “It’s something we’ve known since the first test in Barcelona, which is something we’re going to suffer a little bit. But we’ve been working to resolve this and I think we’ve been heading in the right direction, there was a month of work in the simulator, on the dynamometer”, detailed the pilot. Audi’s focus during the month without races was to study other teams and understand what can be improved in their performance at the starts.

Primeira test of the rules will occur in Miami

The new rules, which will still be tested and evaluated before their definitive entry into force, will have their first practical test in Grande Prêmio and Miami. The stage, which is part of the Fórmula 1 calendar, is scheduled for next Sunday, May 3rd. Este event will be crucial for the FIA ​​and the teams to collect real data on the impact of the changes.

Motorsport fans will be able to follow the development of this important stage and the performance of the new rules. The race in Miami will be broadcast live on sportv 3, with complete real-time coverage available on the ge.globo portal. Expectations are high to see how the modifications will translate to the track and whether they will truly bring the more dynamic and safe racing experience promised by the category.