Mercedes Driver Debunks Fan Theory About 2026 F1 Cars Being Controlled by AI

Formula 1's switch to the 2026 power unit rules has changed how cars behave on track, with a roughly 50/50 split between the internal combustion engine and the electric battery system after the removal of the complex MGU-H component.

The aggressive energy management has confused some fans, but Mercedes simulator and development driver Anthony Davidson recently addressed the issue on the Nu Silver Arrows Radio Show, pushing back against a popular online theory.

Some viewers have speculated that the sudden deceleration at the end of long straights, known in the paddock as "super clipping", is caused by AI overriding the driver's throttle input. Davidson dismissed that idea, saying fans are misinterpreting the energy management system as an automated computer control.

Davidson said the driving style felt familiar because of his previous experience in LMP1 hybrid sports cars with Toyota in the World Endurance Championship, where similar energy deployment and harvesting techniques were required. He said he was completely comfortable with the process of super clipping.

However, Davidson did point out a weakness in the 2026 regulations: tracks like Monza, Spa-Francorchamps, and Jeddah, where drivers are flat-out for a large portion of the lap. On those circuits, the battery drains faster than it can be recharged, forcing the combustion engine to carry the car alone and causing major drops in speed and lap time.

Davidson called this the "Achilles heel" of the rules and said it is being addressed. According to reports, the FIA and F1 are considering revisions to the 2027 and 2028 aerodynamic rules, possibly including more active aero that reduces drag on straights to lower the electrical demand on the power unit.