Oscar Piastri: AI energy deployment makes F1 drivers feel like 'passengers'

Oscar Piastri says F1 drivers sometimes feel like "passengers" as they adapt to the new AI-controlled energy deployment systems in 2026. The McLaren driver's comments highlight a growing frustration with the reduced role of the driver in managing the 350kW of electrical energy, which is now handled by algorithms that learn the track throughout the weekend.

Why it matters:

The 2026 regulations introduced a 50:50 power split between the internal combustion engine and batteries, shifting energy management away from the driver. At circuits with few heavy braking zones, like Spa and Silverstone, drivers are forced to save energy and rely on the AI's deployment strategy, which can have a significant impact on lap time and race results.

The details:

• Drivers are not fully responsible for the deployment of their 350kW of electrical energy; AI algorithms learn the track over the weekend to deliver the ideal deployment.
• At the Hungaroring and Zandvoort, where straights are shorter and braking zones are plentiful, the system feels similar to 2025, allowing drivers to attack more naturally.
• Piastri described Spa's middle sector as running on the combustion engine alone, with no battery assistance—a "weird feeling" when corners vary in power output.
• He noted that at the front of the field, four positions were separated by just nine hundredths of a second, but many drivers had more than that on the table due to factors beyond their control.

What's next:

As the season progresses, drivers will continue to adapt to the AI's learning curve. Tracks with shorter straights should present fewer issues, but the debate over how much control drivers should have over energy deployment is unlikely to fade.