Gabriel Bortoleto, a driver for the Audi team in Formula 1, has expressed his belief that drivers must be capable of adapting to any type of car, rejecting the idea that the vehicles of 2026 cause a disagreement between driving styles.
With the recent introduction of a format with more electric energy in the competition, 47% of the energy comes from electric motors and 53% from combustion engines, a new driving style has emerged that has been questioned by some drivers. Recently, Oscar Piastri argued that these changes make driving too controlled by automated components, which has dissatisfied a part of the group.
Bortoleto, on the other hand, believes that the essence of competition lies in the ability of drivers to adapt. ‘Competition should not be just about one driving style,’ he commented during a press conference in Hungary. ‘I believe that each driver must know how to adjust their style according to the car and what it demands.’
Afirming that his approach to driving hasn’t changed much, he added that it is crucial to adjust to the specific requirements of each vehicle. ‘It depends on the car you have and how you have to tackle the corners.’ He highlighted that, for example, it is necessary to be more cautious on the entries when long tracks with significant energy deployments are expected.
The debate about the loss of control of drivers in the new machines continues. However, Bortoleto emphasizes that elite drivers, like Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, maintain their competitive performance regardless of changes. ‘Do you see Verstappen still as fast? Or Hamilton at the front?’ he asserted, underscoring that this is a sign of the quality of the drivers present on the grid.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
