Martin Brundle has called for FIA intervention following the incident between Norris and Hamilton at the Japanese GP
The power units of this new Formula 1 generation continue to spark debate. The FIA’s involvement has been requested after a peculiar event between Hamilton and Norris during the race in Japan. Martin Brundle commented on McLaren driver’s words about the ‘unintentional’ overtake on Lewis.
and on Google News to improve the quality of the articles
Lando stated that during the battle with the Ferrari driver, he had no intention to pass before the final chicane. The battery delivery was not under the driver’s control, which unexpectedly propelled him past Lewis. Consequently, he then ran out of energy on the main straight, allowing number 44 to reclaim the position.
FIA intervention requested ahead of Miami
Martin Brundle addressed Norris’s comments on the overtake against Hamilton in Japan, emphasizing the need for FIA involvement. The issue rests on the fact that the driver was not fully in control of his car. Battery usage discussions have dominated early 2026, and this incident adds another case for consideration.
“One thing that really worried me was Lando Norris saying: I didn’t want to overtake Lewis Hamilton, but my battery decided to do it, and then I had nothing left to defend myself with,” he said speaking to Sky Sport UK. “There’s a rule in Formula 1: the driver must drive the car alone and without assistance. The driver should not face surprises caused by a self-regulating machine. They need to eliminate this,” he added.
This incident follows the clash between Bearman and Colapinto, which caused a Haas crash. Drivers previously warned about this risk, and now the Federation must seriously consider these warnings: “But now the FIA must make changes for Miami because drivers have raised their concerns,” Brundle noted.
The main issue in qualifying
Another topic needing FIA attention is qualifying. At Suzuka, criticism returned over drivers not pushing to the limit to manage the battery, even during flying laps. Red Bull Team Principal Laurent Mekies described this as a key issue to address.
During the latest GP, Leclerc also voiced complaints about the same matter. During the break until the Florida round, a meeting between the Federation and teams is scheduled. Improvements to the regulations are expected for Miami.
Follow us on social media: Telegram – Instagram – Facebook – Twitter
Cover image credit: Lewis Hamilton