Brundle warns F1 grid over wet 2026 car unknowns

Martin Brundle says Formula 1 heads to the Canadian Grand Prix with drivers "a little bit scared" of what the new-for-2026 cars will do in the wet, just as Montreal’s forecast points to rain at what could become the package’s first real competitive test in those conditions.

Speaking to Sky Sports News, Brundle said the concern is rooted in the basic character of the new cars. "The drivers are all a little bit scared of just what these cars are going to be like in the rain," he said. "They have got so much power and less downforce, less grip, and they don't know yet."

That uncertainty matters because F1’s 2026 technical overhaul has changed both the aerodynamic and power unit packages, but teams have done almost all of their running in dry conditions. Wet-track experience has been limited to shakedown work in Barcelona, leaving the field without a proper chance to find the limit of the cars in heavy rain.

Montreal could force that issue quickly. Forecasts published on Wednesday 20 May indicated the highest rain risk on Sunday, with a 60 to 70 percent chance of light rain through most of the day and a 65 percent chance at the 4 p.m. local-time race start. Saturday also carries a 40 percent chance of light rain late in the morning and a 50 percent chance in the afternoon.

Brundle said that lack of real race-condition exposure is what makes this weekend significant. "Nobody really had that opportunity to push them in a competitive situation, so we could see some drama," he said.

The setting only sharpens that threat. Brundle noted that only one of the last eight Grands Prix in Montreal has run without some form of Safety Car, because accidents tend to leave stranded cars on the circuit. He described Circuit Gilles Villeneuve as "a pretty challenging layout in that respect, old school, and we love it."

If Sunday’s rain arrives, the Canadian Grand Prix could do more than shake up the result. It may provide the first clear answer on whether F1’s 2026 cars are manageable in the wet, or whether the grid’s concern is justified.