Alex Albon issues hint over who holds 2026 F1 advantage

Alex Albon has suggested F1 drivers who have the “brain capacity” to manipulate next year's cars will hold an advantage over their rivals.

A significant rule change will occur next season, with major changes coming to both the aerodynamic and power unit regulations.

Included in the modifications is a noteworthy increase in electrical power, which is set to equal the internal combustion engine in terms of output.

It will likely dramatically alter how the drivers will have to manage their battery throughout the lap, adding another strategic element to wheel-to-wheel battles.

Albon suggested a tangible difference will be made by the drivers, with those who understand the new power units early on gaining an upper hand.

“It's really early days at the moment, but just look at Formula E as a more extreme version as to where we're going to go to,” Albon told media including RacingNews365.

“You can see how the drivers manipulate the racing and qualifying and how they deploy and all these kind of things to gain performance.

“It’s not going to be that extreme, but there will be an element of the drivers who have the brain capacity to understand and facilitate all these demands will go well.”

Alex Albon expecting busy winter as new cars will 'take some getting used to'

The upcoming regulation change has been touted as one of the biggest in the sport's history.

As a result, Albon expects drivers to have a very busy winter period dissecting information regarding the cars rather than simply ensuring their fitness levels are maintained.

“It will be different to anything we've used before,” Albon said.

“We will get used to it, that’s the job of the driver, but it is going to take some getting used to.

“The winter breaks, I don't think it will be spent as casually as it was the previous few years, where we were just training and that sort of thing.

“It’s going to be so much more attention on the simulator work that we're going to be doing over the winter, making sure we understand how it all works, trying different driving styles to make it work.

“I know, for example, at Williams, we have an active working group that's working on how they can prepare the drivers as best as we can, giving us as much information and preparation as possible.”