Martin Brundle Joins Calls for F1 2026 Rule Tweak as George Russell Criticizes ‘Dangerous’ Lewis Hamilton Move – Weekend Roundup

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F1 2026 Midweek Headlines

1. Martin Brundle Calls for Rule Tweaks

  • Sky F1 pundit Martin Brundle has joined calls to adjust the new F1 2026 regulations.

  • The issue stems from the cars losing power at the end of straights due to the battery-harvesting process, referred to by drivers as ‘super clipping’.

  • Brundle described it as a “crazy situation” that could compromise safety, echoing the frustration voiced by Max Verstappen and Lando Norris after the Australian GP.

2. George Russell Slams Ferrari Defensive Moves

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  • Untelevised team radio revealed Russell criticizing Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc for what he called “mega dangerous” defensive driving.

  • Russell was particularly concerned with Hamilton moving on the straight while he closed in, as well as Leclerc’s early-lap defensive maneuvers.

  • The exchange highlights ongoing concerns over safety under the 2026 rules.

3. Honda Acknowledges Problems with Aston Martin

  • Aston Martin’s switch to Honda power has led to a troubled start, with both Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll failing to finish in Melbourne.

  • Team boss Adrian Newey warned of potential permanent nerve damage to drivers’ hands due to vibrations from the Honda engine.

  • Honda HRC confirmed “things cannot remain the same,” signaling ongoing development and collaboration with Aston Martin to resolve these issues.

4. Red Bull Off Mercedes’ Pace – Mekies Comments

  • Laurent Mekies, Red Bull team principal, admitted the RB22 was roughly a second per lap slower than Mercedes at the Australian GP.

  • Max Verstappen recovered from 20th to finish sixth but ended almost a minute behind race winner George Russell.

  • Mekies said the gap is consistent with pre-season expectations and attributed it to “games” played by other teams during testing.

5. Isack Hadjar Power Unit Failure

  • Red Bull rookie Isack Hadjar retired after just 10 laps in his RB22 debut due to a power unit failure, despite qualifying P3.

  • Red Bull is currently reviewing which components will remain in Hadjar’s engine pool for the season after the failure.

  • This highlights the challenges for Red Bull Powertrains in their first season as an independent manufacturer.