Formula 1 faced criticism again over the 2026 regulations after the qualifying session at Spa-Francorchamps. Carlos Sainz and Lewis Hamilton stated that the new cars compromised the drivers’ experience on the traditional Belgian circuit.
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These complaints gained momentum due to the so-called ‘super clipping’, a problem related to battery energy management, which became evident again on a track marked by long straights. In some cases, drivers had to downshift on the straight to preserve energy throughout the lap.
Despite the changes made by the category after the criticisms recorded at the start of the season, the Spa layout exposed limitations that were already expected. The circuit, one of the most challenging on the calendar, highlighted structural difficulties of the technical package introduced for 2026.
After the qualifying session, Sainz stated that the fast lap at Spa lost some of its appeal with the new cars: “I think no one is enjoying a qualifying lap as much as we did last year. It’s clear that we lost a lot with these cars at Spa,” he said.
The Spanish driver avoided expanding the criticism of the category but acknowledged that the regulations still need to evolve: “I don’t want to keep putting down my own sport because that won’t help. We all know this isn’t good enough, it needs to change and it will evolve,” he said.
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Sainz also questioned how the simulations carried out in previous years led to the approval of the current rules: “I hope next year there is a step forward and another the year after. Who saw those simulations in 2022 and 2023 and said we could accept this? This should never have happened. But now we are here, we have exciting races and the category is growing, so it’s time to move forward,” he added.
Hamilton was another to express dissatisfaction when asked if the problems faced at Spa were consistent with the projections made before the introduction of the regulations. The seven-time world champion indicated that the situation was already known internally.
“I’m almost sure yes. We saw it immediately. I don’t know who made the decision, but whoever it was is still in the position,” concluded the Briton, reinforcing the drivers’ discontent with a regulation that continues to generate much debate in Formula 1.
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