Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto has suggested that drivers should “turn the page” on their grievances over the 2026 regulations, and is adamant that Formula 1 hasn’t lost its magic.

The switch from the 2022‑25 regulations, in which drivers had become accustomed to high‑downforce cars that could take even the most challenging high‑speed corners flat, to the 2026 rules has been a bone of contention for much of the field. Although the energy management aspect has been improved slightly with the Miami tweaks to the deployment regulations, this has been a small step. Further changes will be made in 2027 and 2028 to iron out the more heinous issues with energy management.

Many of the drivers had warned that Silverstone was tough on energy usage, and have suggested that the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa‑Francorchamps might be even more tough – Oscar Piastri suggested that it might be “sad” to see some of the challenge dulled by empty batteries. Bortoleto offered a different viewpoint after the British Grand Prix, stating that Silverstone hadn’t lost its “magic” despite some of the slower speeds through the quicker corners.

He said that F1’s more negative voices needed to find a different subject, and accept that the new regulations are here to stay until the end of 2030 – after which F1 is considering a switch back to a naturally aspirated V8. The cars are still fun to drive. It’s different. We need to adapt to that and it’s life.