Overview
- Kimi Antonelli took pole and Max Verstappen qualified second at Spa after a Saturday session that prompted widespread driver complaints about how parts of the track now drive with little or no electric assist.
- Top drivers including Verstappen, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris said sector two feels more like a lower‑powered single‑seater with F1 downforce, calling Pouhon effectively a straight rather than a high‑speed corner.
- Teams measured the effect as long stretches powered mainly by the internal‑combustion engine producing roughly 500–540 PS in those sectors, while exits from other corners still reach near 1,000 PS, creating large corner‑to‑corner swings.
- The change traces to the 2026 power‑unit rules — including removal of the MGU‑H and a lower share of electric drive after negotiations with manufacturers — decisions that earlier simulations had warned could cause this outcome.
- Rulemakers plan staged increases in combustion share to about 58/42 in 2027 and 60/40 by 2028 to smooth power delivery, a move aimed at restoring cornering character, improving drivability for drivers, and recovering on‑track spectacle.