\u201cBut firstly, Albon and other drivers haven\u2019t driven the final rules yet, by definition, because they’re not done yet,\u201d Nikolas Tombazis responded during an interview with Autosport. “Secondly, for sure if you don’t automate certain parts, there will be an increased burden on the drivers. That is true.\u201d<\/p>\n
That, however, is exactly one of the subjects the FIA is currently evaluating. \u201cPart of the work that still needs to be done between now and the start of next season is to determine how much of that stuff will be in the background, let’s say more automatic, versus how much the driver will have to control.\u201d<\/p>\n
No chess, but also not just a steering wheel and pedals<\/p>\n
With the energy management per lap, active aerodynamics, Manual Override Mode, and several other variables, there will indeed be more parameters to deal with than there are today.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don’t want to overburden the driver with something,\u201d added Tombazis. \u201cBut at the same time there has to be a degree of freedom, to make sure that he can attack, defend and have some of that stuff under his control. But there will for sure be some part of it which will be managed transparently to him, so he doesn’t have to think about it when cornering or something like that.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Nikolas](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/nikolas-tombazis-fia-single-se.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Nikolas Tombazis, FIA Single Seater Director<\/p>\n
Photo by: Andy Hone \/ Motorsport Images<\/p>\n
The FIA hopes to find an acceptable balance in the upcoming months. \u201cI think there’s a balance to strike between driving like a chess game of energy management, which we don’t want as one extreme, and then the other extreme where driving is just a steering wheel, a throttle pedal and a brake pedal,\u201d said Tombazis.<\/p>\n
He also made clear that the FIA does not aspire to the latter either. F1 must not become too simple. \u201cWe need to find a good way in the middle.\u201d<\/p>\n
Can smart drivers really \u201cabuse\u201d the new regulations?<\/p>\n
Albon added that in his view smart drivers can \u201cabuse\u201d the new regulations, although a week after his initial comments he laughed: \u201cThe word \u2018abuse\u2019 ended up as the headline everywhere, but I didn\u2019t necessarily mean it negatively.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Williams driver made clear that drivers who have mental bandwidth left beyond just driving could gain a competitive advantage in 2026.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I think smart drivers already prevail. The difference in performance that we see nowadays in F1 includes a percentage of that,\u201d said Tombazis.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd that\u2019s not only now, the mental bandwidth of drivers has been a factor for the last 20 years already – also in the younger days of my career, when I was working with Schumacher for example.<\/p>\n
![\"Alexander](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1756110850_478_alexander-albon-williams.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Alexander Albon, Williams<\/p>\n
Photo by: Alastair Staley \/ LAT Images via Getty Images<\/p>\n
“I mean, obviously he was phenomenally talented, but a big part of what set him apart was that he could also think of all these other things during a race.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know that amongst the current drivers there are some who seem to have a bit extra to think about other things as well, while some others have to use all their CPU to drive the car.\u201d<\/p>\n
In 2026, that challenge may be greater, but Tombazis believes the drivers can handle it. \u201cThese drivers are the best drivers in the world, and they have quite a high bandwidth of intellect. They can deal with certain problems.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to Tombazis, it\u2019s what F1 should be, as long as it doesn\u2019t overshadow the fundamentals.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere’s a level of understanding they need to have of these parameters,\u201d he said. \u201cWe think that\u2019s part of what a top driver has to do. It’s not, however, and we will make sure it isn’t, the main skill.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe main skill is still to be able to brake at the right point, to go fast around the corner, to find the limit, select the right lines, etc. That will still be the main parameter that controls who’s good and who’s bad. I wouldn’t be able to drive the car!\u201d<\/p>\n
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