Martin Brundle Explains Why Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher Would Excel in Modern F1

Martin Brundle claimed that F1 legends Michael Schumacher and Ayrton Senna would've loved the modern era of F1 regulations.

Martin Brundle Explains Why Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher Would Excel in Modern F1

Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher (via Getty), Martin Brundle (via Sky Sports)

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Former F1 driver and infamous commentator Martin Brundle opens up on how F1 legends Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher would’ve loved the modern era of the sport. Schumacher and Senna achieved success during their stint in Formula 1, with the latter losing his life following an accident. However, if the two were still around, Brundle believes they would have excelled in the modern era as well.

The 2026 F1 regulations focus more on active aerodynamics and increased electification of the power units. This is a completely different approach in Formula 1 as compared to the pre-hybrid power unit era in Formula 1. Back during Michael Schumacher and Ayrton Senna, F1 regulations focused more on raw power with loud roaring V10 engines.

As such, Martin Brundle opened up on the differences between the modern regulations and those back in the day. Brundle revealed how drivers had to protect things in their challenger if they wanted to go flat out on the track. The 66-year-old revealed that drivers had to protect things like dog rings, driveshafts, universal joints, or even gearboxes in general.

If you’re going to go flat out for a long time, you’ve got to protect things, That’s always been the same, whether it was Stirling [Moss] and [Juan Manuel] Fangio back in the day, or Jackie [Stewart] or Graham [Hill]. Back then, it was dog rings, driveshafts, universal joints, gearboxes in general, engines, suspension rose joints.

Martin Brundle said, as reported by Crash.net.

Martin Brundle pointed out that drivers were focusing more on protecting multiple parts of the challenger. However, the best drivers of the era, like Michael Schumacher and Ayrton Senna, would’ve loved the modern regulations of cars, as they knew how to make the best of the tools available in the car. Brundle highlighted that the new challengers were bulletproof in many aspects and hence were easier to drive than before.

But the best drivers… I actually think Ayrton [Senna] and Michael [Schumacher] would love these cars because they had the capacity to use all the tools. And the people who knew best how to use all of the tools got the best out of the cars. I think what’s happened is your universal joints and your brakes and your rose joints protection has now come to your battery, because the cars are now bulletpoof in most aspects.

Martin Brundle added.

Martin Brundle opens up on the ‘gloves off’ title fight for the 2026 F1 season

The 2025 F1 season witnessed a great battle between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri at McLaren. However, the team intervened between the two drivers fighting and put one of them at a disadvantage. Now, with the new regulations upcoming in the 2026 season, Brundle hopes for a better fight between Norris and Piastri, especially with one another.

Oscar Piastri, Zak Brown and Lando Norris (via Alamy)
Oscar Piastri, Zak Brown and Lando Norris (via Alamy)

Martin Brundle asserted that McLaren needed to let the two drivers duke it out on track, in a ‘gloves off’ style. Moreover, any nuclear fallout between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri could be tempered by McLaren, but even that would be to avoid FIA penalties and other repercussions from their actions. For now, the team’s priority should be to allow both drivers fight freely for the title win.

Perhaps McLaren should now just let their two drivers duke it out, gloves off, between themselves with zero interference. Any nuclear fallout will be tempered by the need to finish races, score points, avoid FIA in-race penalties, avoid Verstappen catching the pair of them, and running out of the latest specification of parts as the team focuses on 2026.

Martin Brundle said, as reported by Crash.net

The 2026 season is right around the corner, and multi.ple teams have started with development. Time will tell about which team manages to dominate the new regulations. For now, McLaren, Mercedes and Red Bull seem to have started the year off on a positive note.

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