Best challenge ruined? Why F1 drivers fear Spa will be 'painful'
Formula 1 drivers have expressed concerns that the 2026 technical regulations will make racing at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit difficult due to battery energy limitations. The track's long straights and specific configuration may lead to a lack of electrical power deployment in key sectors.
Why it matters
This highlights the tension between new sustainability-focused technical regulations and the preservation of competitive racing quality.
Formula 1 Best challenge ruined? Why F1 drivers fear Spa will be 'painful' Edd Straw 16 Jul 2026 — 3 min read Many Formula 1 drivers have been raising concerns about how the 2026 regulations will affect the driving challenge at Spa-Francorchamps this weekend.
Spa is a concern partly because of its length as, at 4.352 miles, it's the longest track on the calendar. But its configuration is also a problem, with heavily power-dependent first and third sectors sapping the battery. It means that the middle sector, which runs from Les Combes to Stavelot, is effectively a part of the track where you will deploy little or no electrical power.
Accordingly, that's going to be a power-limited part of the track where the maximum 350kW electric power isn't accessible even if you wanted to use it.
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