Martin Brundle calls for major F1 change: 'I've got a tear in my eye'

Martin Brundle has voiced his frustration with Formula 1's 2026 regulations, questioning the impact the new rules have had on racing at some of the sport's most iconic venues. 

The Former F1 driver's comments came after trips to Silverstone and Spa-Francorchamps, two of the calendar's oldest and most iconic race tracks.

Several drivers have noted that the thrilling experience has been diluted by the new cars this year, which require complex energy management procedures. 

The energy-dependent nature of the cars, with drivers forced to manage harvesting and deployment cycles rather than simply pushing flat out, has drawn near-universal criticism from the grid.

"I think they're all struggling to really fully understand it, to be honest," Brundle told Sky F1. 

"I've got a bit of a tear in my eye because we've lost all the great corners at Silverstone, and here we are at Spa with the same situation. 

“These new regulations hurt us on the high-speed circuits."

F1 and the FIA have already acknowledged the severity of the issues and ratified changes for the coming years. 

The power split between the internal combustion engine and the MGU-K will shift to 58% ICE and 42% electric in 2027, before moving to 60/40 in 2028, reducing the electrical dependency.

For Brundle, though, those adjustments do not go far enough and he is keen to see the sport abandon the current concept entirely when the next major regulation cycle arrives.

"We're doing something about it for 2027 and 2028, and we have to get rid of this concept as soon as possible in 2030 or 2031," Brundle said. 

"That aside, this is what we've got. When I'm out on track on a Friday, wow they look fast. And when they're side by side and ducking and diving, it looks a lot of fun to watch. 

“But for now, they've got to get on top of the complexities, and there are a lot of them."