Bortoleto tells F1 drivers to stop complaining about 2026 rules and "turn the page"

Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto has urged his fellow Formula 1 drivers to stop dwelling on their frustrations with the 2026 regulations, arguing the sport retains its appeal and that the field simply needs to adapt to the new era.

Speaking after the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, the Brazilian rookie pushed back against a growing chorus of complaints about the energy management demands imposed by the new rules. The switch from the high-downforce 2022–25 cars — which allowed drivers to take the most challenging high-speed corners flat — to the 2026 machinery has been a source of discontent across much of the grid.

“I don’t think we’ve lost the magic of the sport,” Bortoleto said. “We are still driving f***ing quick through Copse. It’s 280[kph], so I’m still lifting to do that corner. It’s not that easy flat, it’s not that you’re like, ‘oh, we’re not using all the grip we have’. Obviously, last year it was a different concept, but I think we should turn the page. That’s the regulations we’re living right now.”

The energy management picture has been partially addressed by tweaks introduced at the Miami Grand Prix, which limited overall electrical power and boost usage to slow battery drain. Further adjustments are planned for 2027 and 2028, including increased fuel flow limits to raise internal combustion engine output. However, drivers had already flagged Silverstone as a demanding circuit for energy usage, with McLaren’s Oscar Piastri warning that the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps could be even more challenging — and potentially “sad” to watch if cars are neutered by depleted batteries.

Bortoleto was unmoved by such concerns, pointing out that the current regulations are locked in until the end of 2030, after which Formula 1 is considering a return to naturally aspirated V8 engines.

“If there are still people complaining about it, just move the page,” he said. “That’s the regulations we have until 2030, if I understood correctly. And then in 2031, when we go to the new regulations, we talk about it again. But we cannot spend three years talking about the same problem every time, because that’s what we have. The cars are still fun to drive. It’s different. We need to adapt to that and it’s life.”

From a chassis perspective, the 2026 cars have been more warmly received, with drivers broadly appreciating their greater agility. Bortoleto’s comments reflect a pragmatic acceptance that, whatever the shortcomings of the new power unit regulations, the window for meaningful debate has effectively closed.