A new Formula 1 to get used to
The regulatory revolution planned for 2026 has created a Formula 1 that is certainly very different from recent years. Fans have witnessed more overtakes and counter-overtakes, but new challenges have come to the forefront, such as managing the energy produced by the batteries and the impossibility for drivers to push flat out during qualifying. Following the Japanese Grand Prix, a meeting is scheduled to evaluate potential regulatory adjustments, aiming to improve certain aspects of this “new” Formula 1. All indications suggest that qualifying will at least be made more similar to the format that was known — and appreciated — in the past.
Agag reveals Wolff’s plan
Formula E founder Alejandro Agag spoke about the new direction of Formula 1 to Marca: “I like it because I understand what is happening. Watching Formula E now is very similar to watching Formula 1. The issue of battery charging and discharging has been part of our sport for 12 years…”
Alejandro Agag then highlighted the convergence between the two categories, pointing to a specific manager as the mind behind the current developments in F1: “When Mercedes left here, it was because they wanted to copy what was happening in Formula E and bring it into Formula 1. The main inspirations behind what is happening now in F1 are Mercedes and Toto Wolff. Back then, Toto, who was here, saw what was happening and said, ‘I will bring all of this to Formula 1 and unite Formula 1 and Formula E.’ And since the idea came from him, he has an advantage, which is visible in the difference he has compared to the others…” – he concluded.
Alejandro Agag’s comments suggest that Mercedes’ dominance in the early stages of the 2026 cycle is the result of years of “reconnaissance” in the electric series. By championing regulations that prioritize sophisticated energy recovery and deployment, Toto Wolff has arguably positioned Brixworth to capitalize on a technology curve they had already begun to master elsewhere. As the rest of the grid plays catch-up with the complex software required to manage these hybrid power units, Alejandro Agag’s theory provides a fascinating look at the political and technical chess game being played behind the scenes of the world championship.
Whether this was a grand design or a natural evolution of automotive trends, the “Formula E-ification” of F1 remains a polarizing topic. For fans, the hope is that the upcoming regulatory meeting in Japan can find a middle ground—preserving the cutting-edge hybrid technology that manufacturers crave while restoring the raw, unmanaged speed that defines a true Formula 1 car. Until then, Toto Wolff’s “master plan” seems to be operating at full voltage.
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