Bortoleto Urges F1 Rivals to Adapt to New Power Unit Regulations

Following the recent British Grand PrixCompetition·British Grand Prix, Gabriel BortoletoPlayer·Gabriel Bortoleto has issued a clear message to his Formula 1Competition·Formula 1 competitors: adapt to the sport's current regulations. The Audi F1 TeamTeam·Audi F1 Team driver believes that continued criticism of the new power unit rules is unproductive, advocating for a focus on performance within the existing framework.

The core of the debate revolves around the 2026 regulations, which mandate a 50:50 power distribution between the internal combustion engine and the hybrid battery system. Prior to the British Grand PrixCompetition·British Grand Prix at Silverstone CircuitVenue·Silverstone Circuit, concerns were raised that this balance would lead to rapid battery depletion, particularly through high-speed sections like the stretch from LuffieldVenue·Luffield to StoweVenue·Stowe, encompassing CopsVenue·Cops, MaggottsVenue·Maggotts, BeckettsVenue·Becketts, and the Hangar StraightVenue·Hangar Straight. This was feared to compromise top speeds and the overall driving experience.

While these anxieties did not fully materialize during the Silverstone event, some drivers have maintained their strong objections to the 50:50 power split. The regulations are slated for adjustment over the next two seasons, with the power distribution shifting to a 60:40 ratio in favor of the internal combustion engine by 2028.

Bortoleto, who secured an eighth-place finish at Silverstone, earning valuable points for Audi, emphasized the need for a change in mindset. He had previously scored points for the team with a ninth-place finish at the season-opening Australian Grand PrixCompetition·Australian Grand Prix, marking Audi's first points since taking over SauberTeam·Sauber at the end of 2025.

"I don't think we've lost the magic of the sport. We're still going incredibly fast through Cops, at 280 km/h, and I still have to lift off the throttle to take that corner," Bortoleto stated. He continued, "It's not easy to go full throttle, we're not using all the grip we have. Last year the concept was different, but I think we need to turn the page."

He further elaborated on his perspective, urging his peers to move past their complaints. "These are the rules we live with right now, and if there are still people complaining about them, just turn the page; these are the rules we have until 2030," Bortoleto asserted. "After that, when we move to the new rules, we'll talk again, but we can't spend three years discussing the same things every time. Because this is what we have. The cars are still fun to drive, it's just different and we have to adapt to that, and that's life."

Bortoleto's season has seen both progress and challenges. He described practical starts during pre-season testing in BahrainVenue·Bahrain as a "mess" due to the new battery management systems. He also acknowledged the difficulty of transitioning from championship wins in Formula 2 and Formula 3 to competing further down the grid in Formula 1Competition·Formula 1, stressing the importance of patience. Additionally, he faced disqualification from the Miami Grand PrixCompetition·Miami Grand Prix sprint race for an engine regulation infringement.

His teammate at Audi, Nico HülkenbergPlayer·Nico Hülkenberg, retired from the British Grand PrixCompetition·British Grand Prix due to a gearbox issue and has yet to score points this season. Meanwhile, Lewis HamiltonPlayer·Lewis Hamilton, driving for FerrariTeam·Ferrari, demonstrated the potential for speed under the current regulations, clocking an impressive 352 km/h at Silverstone, as reported by Formula 1Competition·Formula 1.