The Belgian Grand Prix could become the toughest test yet for Formula 1’s new generation of cars and power units. The reason lies in the long straights of the Spa-Francorchamps circuit, combined with the limited number of heavy braking zones available to recharge the battery. This combination could force drivers and teams into constant electrical energy management throughout the lap, leaving sections of the circuit with virtually no hybrid assistance and a significant reduction in available power.
Alonso warns of Formula 2-level power at Spa
Fernando Alonso first raised concerns during the British Grand Prix weekend at Silverstone, where he openly expressed his worries about what awaits drivers in Belgium. According to the Aston Martin driver, Spa is one of the most demanding circuits on the Formula 1 calendar from an energy management perspective.
Fernando Alonso explained that if a driver used all the available battery energy from Turn 1 to Les Combes, there would be nothing left for the remainder of the lap. As a result, drivers will have to carefully balance battery usage, preserving enough energy to deploy from Stavelot to the Bus Stop chicane. However, choosing that strategy—likely the most effective one—would mean completing the entire second sector without any electrical deployment.
That is precisely what concerns the two-time world champion the most. Fernando Alonso pointed out that when there is no electrical deployment, drivers must remember that this year’s cars already produce significantly less power than last season. In those conditions, he argued, the cars actually have less power than a Formula 2 car.
His concern is well founded. Once the battery is completely depleted, the internal combustion engine alone produces around 540 horsepower, considerably less than the approximately 610 horsepower generated by the Mecachrome engines currently used in Formula 2.
Spa layout highlights the challenge
A closer look at the Spa-Francorchamps layout makes Fernando Alonso’s concerns easy to understand. After recovering energy under braking at the Bus Stop chicane and La Source hairpin, drivers immediately tackle the iconic Eau Rouge-Raidillon climb before accelerating along the Kemmel Straight, a sequence that places enormous demands on battery deployment.
The second sector is also dominated by high-speed corners with very few significant braking zones, making it extremely difficult to recover enough electrical energy. As a result, teams will be forced to carefully decide where to use electric power and where to sacrifice it completely.
The situation closely mirrors what was seen at Silverstone, where even the famous Maggotts-Becketts-Chapel complex effectively became what Fernando Alonso jokingly described as a “charging station,” with drivers focusing more on recovering battery energy than maximizing outright performance through one of Formula 1’s fastest sections.
Teams and drivers share concerns ahead of Belgium
Fernando Alonso is far from alone in expressing concern. Oliver Bearman admitted that the challenges experienced at Silverstone may prove insignificant compared to what awaits drivers at Spa. He suggested that everyone should avoid drawing conclusions too early because, after Spa, Silverstone might actually seem easy by comparison.
Max Verstappen echoed those concerns. While saying that Spa is one of his favorite circuits, the Dutch driver admitted that it is likely to be another very difficult weekend because of the energy management issues, much like Silverstone.
Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies also acknowledged that the team fears a repeat of the problems encountered at Silverstone. He explained that the situation reflects the complexity of the current Formula 1 regulations. Just one week earlier, Red Bull had been fighting for victory in Austria, only to encounter major limitations at Silverstone that prevented the team from extracting the car’s full potential.
Laurent Mekies added that the problem becomes more severe on circuits with high energy consumption, where Red Bull appears to suffer more than its rivals. In his view, Spa-Francorchamps falls squarely into that same category.
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella shares a similar opinion. He believes Spa will be an interesting challenge for every team because, like Silverstone, it places enormous demands on energy management. With even longer straights than the British circuit, teams will inevitably face significant challenges in optimizing both power unit performance and electrical energy deployment throughout the lap.
The concerns that have emerged during the opening months of the 2026 Formula 1 season have already prompted action from both the FIA and Formula 1. For the 2027 and 2028 seasons, the regulations are set to progressively reduce dependence on the electrical component by shifting the power split from the current approximate 50:50 balance between the internal combustion engine and electric motor toward a more traditional 60:40 ratio.
The objective is clear: prevent iconic circuits like Spa-Francorchamps, Silverstone, Monza and Suzuka from becoming races dominated primarily by energy management, allowing drivers to push throughout the lap instead of turning some of Formula 1’s most spectacular corners into opportunities to recharge the battery.
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