Fernando Alonso issued a worrying warning for the Belgian Grand Prix of Formula 1, and believes that the category’s cars could be slower than those of Formula 2 in certain sections of the Spa-Francorchamps circuit. The Spaniard attributes this scenario to the limitations imposed by the energy management of the 2026 season cars.
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According to the Aston Martin driver, the Belgian circuit should repeat the difficulties recently seen at Silverstone, where the management of the electric charge was decisive for performance. On tracks with long straights, the need to save energy can significantly reduce the available power during the lap.
Alonso explained that the long Kemmel straight and other high-speed areas will require a careful strategy for using electric energy: “Silverstone and Spa consume a lot of energy, and you can’t deploy it on all the straights. Next week will be the same. If you use all the energy at Spa from turn 1 to 5, it’s over for the rest of the lap,” he said.
The two-time world champion detailed that drivers will need to preserve part of the charge for the section between turn 14 and the Bus Stop. If the energy is used on the main straights of the track, there will be a long second sector without any electric assistance, a situation that will directly compromise the cars’ performance.
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It was in this context that Alonso made the comparison with Formula 2: “Without energy deployment, we must not forget that this year we have significantly less power than last year and less power than F2. This is what happens when you cut deployment. So, it’s a challenge,” he added.
The scenario described by the Spaniard is related to the characteristics of the 2026 power units, which split performance generation between the combustion engine and the electric system. When the battery charge runs out, only the combustion engine power remains, considerably reducing the available performance compared to the maximum potential of the set during a lap.
Besides the specific concerns for Spa, Alonso reflected a feeling shared by other drivers on the grid. With Aston Martin facing difficulties throughout the season, the Spaniard sees the new technical characteristics as an additional challenge, while names like Max Verstappen and Lando Norris have also expressed discomfort with a regulation that forces drivers to reduce pace in sections that were previously driven with the throttle fully open.
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