Gabriel Bortoleto has defended Formula 1’s controversial 2026 technical regulations, arguing that adapting to different cars and power delivery characteristics is a fundamental part of being an F1 driver. Speaking after the Hungarian Grand Prix at the halfway point of the season, the Audi talent rejected suggestions that the new generation of cars has diminished individual driving skill or fundamentally distorted the role of the driver.
The 2026 regulations have continued to divide opinion across the paddock, with several drivers voicing criticism of how the new cars must be driven. Gabriel Bortoleto, however, has taken a very different position, insisting that Formula 1’s elite should be capable of adjusting their technique rather than relying on one preferred driving style.
Gabriel Bortoleto defends 2026 F1 rules and driver adaptation
While debate over the new technical regulations continues, Gabriel Bortoleto has challenged the idea that drivers should judge the cars primarily according to whether they complement their natural style.
“I don’t like talking about ‘driving style’, and I don’t think a Formula 1 driver should even use that expression,” Gabriel Bortoleto said. “Motorsport isn’t tied to one particular stylistic approach, like the classic karting rule of ‘slow in, fast out’. Our job is to adapt, even when the way we have to drive doesn’t come naturally to us. We’re here, among only 22 drivers in the world in F1, precisely because of that ability.”
For the Brazilian, adapting to the machinery is therefore not something that diminishes a driver’s role. Instead, it is one of the qualities that separates Formula 1 drivers from the rest of the motorsport world.
How 2026 F1 power delivery has changed driving technique
Gabriel Bortoleto acknowledged that the new power units and different energy deployment characteristics have required drivers to refine their technique. However, he does not believe those changes have rewritten the fundamentals of driving a Formula 1 car.
“In the end, everything depends on the car you have underneath you and what it asks of you. Compared with the past, I’ve changed only a few details: last year the power delivery was constant, today you have to understand where the power is being cut and where it is being released.”
He explained that the compromise can change from corner to corner depending on the energy available and what follows on the circuit.
“In some corners you can afford to push harder on entry because the exit is neutral. In others you have to be more cautious under braking to prioritise the following straight. It’s just management, not a complete upheaval.”
The complexity of extracting performance from the current generation of cars has also placed greater emphasis on technical development. McLaren, for example, produced a significant breakthrough through its development programme in Hungary, illustrating how both the car and the driver must continue evolving during the season.
Bortoleto points to Verstappen, Hamilton and Leclerc
Gabriel Bortoleto’s comments come amid wider uncertainty over how much of each driver’s performance should be attributed to the machinery. Car characteristics are frequently cited when explaining fluctuating results across the grid, but the Audi driver does not believe the new regulations have overturned the natural hierarchy of talent.
To support that argument, Gabriel Bortoleto pointed directly to some of Formula 1’s biggest names.
“Do you see Verstappen going slowly? Or a seven-time world champion being slow? Is Leclerc suddenly out of contention? I see them as competitive as ever,” Gabriel Bortoleto said.
“Lewis is performing even better than last season. Max continues to do incredible things, taking the car beyond its limits. Lando continues to prove that he’s extremely quick. We’re not seeing slow drivers suddenly become incredibly fast, or the opposite. The strong drivers remain strong, regardless of the machinery.”
Bortoleto rejects idea that new cars have reduced driver influence
That argument goes to the heart of Gabriel Bortoleto’s defence of the 2026 regulations. Although the new power units and energy management demands have changed how drivers approach certain corners and race situations, he believes the fundamental ability to extract performance remains decisive.
For Gabriel Bortoleto, a Formula 1 driver should therefore be judged partly on how successfully they adapt when a car does not naturally suit them. The challenge is not to preserve one established driving technique, but to understand what the machinery requires and adjust accordingly.
With the championship now at its halfway stage, comparisons between team-mates and leading drivers are becoming increasingly revealing. The current 2026 Formula 1 driver standings provide another measure of how effectively each competitor has adapted to the new technical era. GP-News’ standings page is currently surfaced by the site as its Formula 1 Driver Standings section.
For Bortoleto, however, the fundamental conclusion is already clear: Formula 1’s regulations may change the demands placed on a driver, but adapting to those demands is itself part of what defines an elite driver.
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