Former Formula 1 driver turned commentator Martin Brundle believes the current grid harbors genuine concerns about how the sport’s dramatically revised 2026 regulations cars will handle wet racing conditions. Speaking to Sky Sports News ahead of this weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix, Brundle suggested drivers are “a little bit scared” about the unknown performance characteristics when rain arrives at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
The concerns stem from F1’s comprehensive technical restructuring this season, which introduced sweeping changes to both aerodynamic packages and power unit specifications. While teams have accumulated extensive dry-weather data throughout the early rounds, the new machinery remains largely untested in challenging wet conditions, with only minimal running during Barcelona’s pre-season shakedown providing limited insight into rain performance.
“The drivers are all a little bit scared of just what these cars are going to be like in the rain,” Brundle explained. “They have got so much power and less downforce, less grip, and they don’t know yet.” The combination of increased power output and reduced aerodynamic grip presents an unknown equation that has teams and drivers approaching wet sessions with heightened caution.
With rain currently forecast for Sunday’s race in Montreal, Brundle anticipates the weather could provide dramatic revelations about the cars’ capabilities. “Nobody really had that opportunity to push them in a competitive situation, so we could see some drama,” he noted, highlighting how the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve’s characteristics amplify the challenge.
The Canadian venue’s history supports Brundle’s prediction of potential chaos, with only one of the last eight Montreal races completing without Safety Car intervention. The circuit’s unforgiving nature means crashes typically leave cars stranded on track, creating additional complications when combined with unknown wet-weather performance from the new technical regulations.