Gabriel Bortoleto on 2026 F1 challenges: “The starts are truly horrible right now”. Gabriel Bortoleto discusses the challenges of the 2026 F1 regulations.

While the first day of the second pre-season testing session is underway in Bahrain, Gabriel Bortoleto joined the team at SkySportF1 to share some insights on the new 2026 regulations. The Brazilian rookie was candid about the significant shift in car behavior, noting the steep learning curve ahead for the entire grid.

“It’s evident how much the cars have changed following the regulatory overhaul. It will take time to adapt; even for me, as a young driver, it won’t be simple,” the Brazilian said, acknowledging the physical and technical demands of the new machinery.

The struggle with 2026 start procedures

Another hot topic currently dominating paddock talk is the difficulty of race starts, which have become visibly more complex under the new rules. Gabriel Bortoleto didn’t hold back when describing the feeling from the cockpit: “With these single-seaters, it’s going to be a constant struggle. They are difficult to drive, and you need a very high level of control. Not to mention the starts—at the moment, they are truly horrible.”

He went on to compare the current situation with the previous era of Formula 1. “Last year was much simpler, but now the procedure has changed completely. At the moment, I haven’t done a full start simulation yet, but we will be working hard on it over the next few days. However, it’s going to take a lot of time for everyone to get used to it,” he concluded.

As the teams continue to gather data in Sakhir, it is clear that mastering the new clutch and energy deployment settings for the race start will be one of the biggest challenges for the 2026 season. We remind you that full coverage of the tests is available on Sky, but for those unable to watch the action on TV, the editorial team at GP-News.net will provide live updates and written summaries to keep you fully informed on everything happening on track.

Mastering these “horrible” starts could very well be the deciding factor in the opening rounds of the championship. With drivers like Gabriel Bortoleto highlighting the high level of precision required, the technical battle in the Bahrain pit lane is now as much about software and procedural perfection as it is about pure aerodynamic performance. As the second week of testing continues, watching how the veterans and rookies alike handle these new procedures will be one of the most intriguing storylines to follow.