The possibility of rain at the Canadian GP this coming weekend has increased the concern of Formula 1 drivers and teams about the 2026 cars. According to Martin Brundle, there is a real fear on the grid about the behavior of the new models in wet track conditions.
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In 2026, the category underwent a major technical change, with important alterations both in aerodynamics and power units. Despite the mileage accumulated in dry conditions, the cars have still hardly been tested in real heavy rain situations.
The former Formula 1 driver and current commentator believes that this lack of experience with the new cars in wet conditions creates uncertainty among the competitors. For Brundle, the combination of high power, less downforce, and lower grip could turn rainy races into even greater challenges for the drivers: “The drivers are all a bit scared about how these cars will behave in the rain,” Brundle told Sky Sports News. “They have a lot of power, less downforce, less grip, and they still don’t know exactly what it will be like.”
So far, the wet track tests of the cars have only happened in a limited way during the shakedown in Barcelona. Some teams took advantage of the conditions to collect initial data, but there has not yet been a real opportunity to push the cars to the limit in a competitive rainy scenario.
The Canadian GP, the fifth round of the 2026 season, could be precisely the first big test under these circumstances. The forecast points to the possibility of rain on Sunday, which raises expectations for an eventful race in Montreal.
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“No one has really had the chance to push these cars in a competitive situation under these conditions, so we might see some drama,” said Brundle. The former driver also recalled the recent history of the Canadian race involving Safety Car deployments.
“Only one of the last eight GPs in Montreal happened without some kind of Safety Car, because if you crash, you basically stay on the track. It’s a quite challenging layout in this respect, old-school style, and we love that,” he added.
These statements reinforce the feeling of uncertainty that still exists in the Formula 1 paddock regarding the 2026 cars. With little experience in the rain and a circuit traditionally prone to accidents, the Canadian GP could end up offering the first big test for the new generation of the category.
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