Nigel Mansell has warned the FIA that it needs to ensure this year\u2019s 50\/50 electrical and combustion split doesn\u2019t see drivers suddenly slow to conserve the battery.<\/p>\n
After all, anything else \u201cwouldn\u2019t be very good, would it?\u201d<\/p>\n
Nigel Mansell: That wouldn\u2019t be very good, would it?<\/p>\n
Want more PlanetF1.com coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google<\/a> to your favourites list for news you can trust<\/p>\n Never mind the new cars with their movable wings, this season Formula 1 has a new engine formula, and it is one that is widely tipped to shake up the field.<\/p>\n Switching to a 50\/50 split between electrical and combustion power, energy management is one of the big topics in the build-up to the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.<\/p>\n There is boost mode, which a driver can use at any time during a lap, overtaking mode that they can only use when they\u2019re within one second of the driver ahead at a certain point during the lap, and the need to recharge the battery to be able to deploy either, or both.<\/p>\n Reigning World Champion Lando Norris<\/a> told PlanetF1.com and other media at McLaren\u2019s launch: \u201cThe biggest challenge at the minute is battery management and knowing how to utilise that in the best way.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ll see more yo-yoing, more moves with extra speed. But then that person might have to defend more than what you\u2019ve seen in the past and that will create more chaos, which is great for you guys.\u201d<\/p>\n More on F1 engines<\/p>\n F1 2026 uncovered: How Boost, Overtake, and sustainable fuel change the game<\/a><\/p>\n Explained: F1\u2019s complex power unit upgrade system<\/a><\/p>\n George Russell highlighted the importance of learning the \u201csmall techniques\u201d to find a few percent of battery harvesting at the right time.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s all a bit of surprise and understanding the small techniques that will gain you a couple of percent of energy re harvesting and just the small quirks around this new power unit,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Lift-and-coast, could become the norm. Even in qualifying. But what happens if someone suddenly does that to conserve or recharge battery power?<\/p>\n That could be a disaster, according to 1992 World Champion Mansell.<\/p>\n \u201cThe FIA have got to pay special attention that it\u2019s still flat-out racing,\u201d he told The Observer. \u201cWe don\u2019t want to have situations where someone has to slow down and let everyone pass because they\u2019re having to conserve the battery.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d hate to see what happens on the motorway sometimes when these electric vehicles pull over on the side of the road because they\u2019ve run out of power.<\/p>\n \u201cThat wouldn\u2019t be very good, would it?\u201d<\/p>\n Nigel Mansell\u2019s bold predictions ahead of F1 2026<\/p>\n As to who could survive and overcome the chaos best, Mansell has once again put Lewis Hamilton on his list of favourites despite the Briton\u2019s winless first season with Ferrari.<\/p>\n According to the Briton, Hamilton still has what it takes to fight for his record-breaking eighth World title.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t want to put any pressure on him but I think Lewis is going to have a fantastic year,\u201d Mansell predicted. \u201cHe\u2019s a young 41. He\u2019s strong as an ox and super fit.<\/p>\n \u201cIf Ferrari put the car underneath him that he deserves he can do the business still and get that magical eighth World title.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think it\u2019s over yet.\u201d<\/p>\n And while it\u2019s not over for Hamilton, it\u2019s just began for his compatriot Norris who heads into this season as the defending champion.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s so young, he\u2019s got the world at his feet,\u201d declared Mansell. \u201cHe\u2019s going to get better, he\u2019s going to be more confident this year. He\u2019s going to have another half a second in his pocket when he wants to push.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s the World Champion, when anybody wears that mantle, it puts a stride in your step. You\u2019ve done it; you\u2019ve achieved it. It\u2019s the most momentous thing to achieve, the world champion of anything. All power to his elbow, I think 2026 is going to be a fantastic championship.<\/p>\n \u201cMercedes are hot favourites, McLaren are there and Ferrari are there, which is incredibly exciting.\u201d<\/p>\n Additional reporting by Thomas Maher and Mat Coch<\/p>\n Want to be the first to know exclusive information from the F1 paddock? Join our broadcast channel on WhatsApp<\/a> to get the scoop on the latest developments from our team of accredited journalists.<\/p>\n You can also subscribe to the PlanetF1 YouTube channel<\/a> for exclusive features, hear from our paddock journalists with stories from the heart of Formula 1 and much more!<\/p>\n