Jul.19 (GMM) Formula 1 has denied deliberately hiding the true extent of the 2026 cars’ energy management problems after broadcasters questioned the television coverage from Spa.
Sky Deutschland commentators noticed that onboard cameras repeatedly cut away before the end of the Kemmel Straight, with speed and battery graphics also largely absent.
“Why don’t they just stick with it? I don’t understand it,” said commentator Sascha Roos.
Former F1 driver Timo Glock replied: “Because they don’t want to show the drop in speed.”
Formula 1 rejected the suggestion, telling Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport there was “no political agenda” behind the television direction and insisted no information was being concealed – adding that all onboard footage remains available in full.
The drivers, however, openly described the scale of the problem.
“In Blanchimont, we plummet from 320kph to 270 because the battery is dead,” said world champion Lando Norris.
Liam Lawson explained how aggressively drivers now have to manage their energy.
“After Eau Rouge, the energy is practically gone, then we have to recharge from T5 to T8, from T9 to T10 and from T11 to T12. It’s the worst feeling so far this season – even Silverstone was better,” he said.
“In the junior series, this track always meant attacking for me. That’s over now.”
Haas’ Oliver Bearman added: “In race mode, it’s going to be incredibly boring. It’s just not fun, so I’m already looking forward to Budapest.”
Max Verstappen said the regulations have left F1 cars at the legendary Spa circuit often with the power of a Formula 3. “For most of sector 2, you run just on the engine,” he said.
“What is that? 450, 500 horsepower – something like that, which is, I guess, more or less what a Formula 3 car has, but with F1 downforce. So, you can imagine, of course, that that is not very exciting to drive.”
“But honestly, I don’t want to sit here and complain again because probably someone will shoot me outside the door.”
GPDA director Carlos Sainz says Formula 1 must eventually correct the regulations.
“At the same time, I don’t want to constantly criticise my own sport, because it won’t do any good,” he said.
“But if the simulations in 2022 or 2023 showed where this was headed, I don’t understand how such a concept could have been approved. I’d like to understand what happened then, because it shouldn’t have happened.”
Hamilton also questioned how the regulations were ever signed off.
“Whoever it is, they still have their job,” the Ferrari driver noted.
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