Fernando Alonso reveals how clever F1 tactics could pay off in 2026

Fernando Alonso is anticipating he will be able to make use of energy management and deployed to frustrate rival cars in battle this year.

The F1 power units are undergoing a significant change this year, with the electrical output being boosted to match the combustion engines.

How the drivers use the unit to extract pace is set to be vastly different from what the drivers have experienced in the past.

Last year, overtaking proved to be difficult for many drivers due to how difficult the cars were to follow through corners, as well as their competitiveness relative to their rivals.

Alonso hinted a similar situation could arise in 2026 as drivers make use of their new tools.

“You always can play a little bit with the tools you have in your hands,” Alonso told media including RacingNews365

“Lately, because the cars were more difficult to follow, if you’re qualifying well, you can keep cars behind even if you don’t have pace.

“I would love to be five seconds margin. Like this, I stop and I don’t have any cars behind.

“But I cannot pull away from cars. You use your experience in different ways, in different corners, to make sure that you are not overtaken.

“So next year, it could be the same thing with the energy deployment, that you can use it here and there and have unexpected results.”

However, as Aston Martin hope to take a sizeable step forward at the start of the sport's new era, Alonso declared he will take little satisfaction from finishing in the midfield.

“But you cannot be proud to finish 7th or 6th by using your brain 200%,” he said. 

“I prefer not using my brain and win all the races with 20 seconds.”