Lewis Hamilton believes overtaking in Formula 1 is no longer as satisfying as it once was, with battery deployment increasingly determining whether a driver can attack or defend. Ahead of the 2026 Belgian Grand Prix, the Ferrari driver explained why energy management could have a particularly significant influence at Spa-Francorchamps.
Energy management raises concerns ahead of the Belgian GP
With the arrival of the new generation of Formula 1 cars, the 2026 Belgian Grand Prix could be influenced more heavily than any previous race by the demands of electrical energy management. Early simulations have raised concerns that the cars could run out of usable electrical power during Spa-Francorchamps’s second sector because of the need to recharge the battery, potentially with brake temperatures also falling particularly low.
Lewis Hamilton highlighted the issue during his pre-race interviews at Spa. The challenge could become especially important around a circuit that combines long full-throttle sections with fast corners, significant elevation changes and limited opportunities to recover energy without sacrificing performance.
Despite the adjustments made to the technical regulations, the near-equal contribution of the electrical and combustion components in the current Formula 1 power units continues to generate debate. One of the most visible consequences has been the emergence of so-called battery “yo-yo” overtakes, which are becoming an increasingly familiar feature for both drivers and fans.
These situations occur when one car depletes its available electrical energy and suddenly loses performance partway down a straight, allowing the following driver to sweep past with a stronger battery deployment. However, the attacking driver may then become vulnerable shortly afterwards after using a significant portion of the available energy to complete the move.
Lewis Hamilton questions battery-driven F1 overtaking
Speaking to journalists on the Thursday before the Belgian Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton was asked how overtaking had changed during his Formula 1 career. With 20 seasons and 389 Grand Prix starts behind him, the Ferrari driver is exceptionally well placed to compare the current racing dynamics with those of previous eras.
“Overtaking is definitely not as satisfying as it used to be. There are probably still half of the circuits where you cannot really overtake,” Lewis Hamilton admitted with characteristic honesty.
Lewis Hamilton explained that some of the championship’s best circuits still produce traditional overtaking under braking, which he considers the way passes should ideally be completed. However, he noted that Formula 1 now frequently produces moves halfway along a straight simply because the driver ahead has run out of electrical power.
“At some good circuits, most of the overtaking happens under braking, as it should. But you often see overtakes halfway down a straight because one driver runs out of power,” Lewis Hamilton continued.
F1 drivers face a strategic battery battle
Adapting to this form of racing requires drivers to understand precisely how much battery energy they have available at every stage of the lap. Deploying additional electrical power can create an opportunity to attack, but using too much energy may leave the same driver exposed to a counterattack soon afterwards.
“How do you adapt? It is mainly about understanding how much battery you have available. If you use it to overtake, shortly afterwards your rival will have the power to pass you. You have to try to manage it quite strategically,” Lewis Hamilton explained.
That strategic exchange could become one of the defining features of the 2026 Belgian Grand Prix. Spa-Francorchamps has always rewarded aerodynamic efficiency, straight-line speed and driver commitment, but the new regulations have added another decisive variable as Ferrari, Mercedes and their rivals attempt to balance performance with the electrical energy needed to complete the lap competitively.
For Lewis Hamilton, the issue is not simply whether the new cars can overtake. It is also about the quality of those moves and whether passes created by battery depletion can provide the same satisfaction as a carefully prepared attack completed under braking.
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