Brundle sparks controversy: ‘F1 drivers fourth in line in FIA priorities’

The fallout from Oliver Bearman’s terrifying high-speed crash at Suzuka is still rippling through the Formula 1 paddock – but now Martin Brundle has lit a fuse under the debate, delivering a blunt assessment of where drivers really stand in the FIA’s safety pecking order.

And it’s not where you might expect.

The Japanese Grand Prix crash that involved Haas’ Bearman and Alpine’s Franco Colapinto was a direct result of the massive speed deltas caused by F1’s new-for-2026 power units, and it has turned a theoretical safety debate into a visceral reality.

For Brundle, the incident exposed a cold hierarchy within the FIA’s safety architecture.

The pecking order of risk

According to the Sky F1 commentator, the idea that drivers are the centerpiece of safety regulations is a polite fiction. In Brundle’s estimation, the men risking their lives at triple-digit speeds find themselves at the bottom of a four-tier ladder.

“It's a big issue for the FIA because its driver safety is sacrosanct. I think they're fourth in line in terms of priorities,” Brundle remarked on the Sky Sports F1 Show, stripping away the diplomatic gloss usually found in such discussions.

"The top priority is the fans because they're paying to be there. They haven't bought into any element of risk, and they have to be protected.

Next up are the marshals, the corner workers, because they're not being paid to be there, but they assume an element of risk because they're trackside. Next up, for me, are the pitstop crew in terms of priorities. And finally, the drivers."

A System Under Pressure

Behind the scenes, frustration has been building. Drivers have repeatedly warned about the dangers posed by the new power unit regulations – particularly the dramatic closing speeds when energy deployment fluctuates.

Brundle suggests those warnings haven’t just been casual complaints – they’ve been formalized.

"I would be pretty certain they've put that in writing through the Grand Prix Drivers' Association as well,” he said.

“So, if a car flies into the crowd now and they haven't done something, shown some due diligence on this, then the FIA will be in for the high jump."

The implication is clear: the governing body has been put on notice. And if action isn’t taken quickly, the consequences could extend far beyond the track.

'Between a rock and a hard place'

Yet, even as he criticizes the system, Brundle acknowledges the complexity of the challenge. The 2026 regulations – centered around significantly increased electrical power – have created a technical dilemma that may not have an easy fix.

"So, they will now have to do something and listen to the drivers,” Brundle explained.

“But we're hamstrung. We've got a motor that turns out three times its electrical power compared to last year, and the battery depletes in any given decent straight.

"We're between a rock and a hard place really on this because the hardware is just not up to it. And we've talked about this for three years now.

“We knew it was going to be like this. This is fundamentally flawed, but I think they should be able to smooth some of these elements out.”

It’s a damning conclusion: the sport, according to Brundle, is grappling with a problem it saw coming – and failed to fully resolve.

• Read also: FIA, manufacturers open ‘constructive dialogue’ on F1 engine rules

With teams and the FIA already engaged in “constructive dialogue” over potential fixes, attention now turns to Miami as the first real test of whether those concerns will translate into action.

For Brundle, the message is unmistakable. The warnings have been issued, the risks exposed, and the responsibility now sits squarely with the FIA.

Because if drivers truly are “fourth in line,” the next incident might not end as fortunately as Bearman’s.

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