Max Verstappen believes the 2026 Formula 1 drivers have power levels comparable to the Formula 3 drivers in the mid-range sector of the Belgian Grand Prix.
Verstappen, who has been critical of this year’s rules, stopped short of criticizing the rules at Spa – even saying he didn’t want to keep saying negative things about them – but couldn’t hide his displeasure when asked what they had done to one of his favorite circuits.
As previously in 2026, a strong result – second in qualifying at Spa – did not soften Verstappen’s view of the rules.
“For most of the second sector you are just working on the engine. So what is it? 450 hp, 500 hp? Something like that, which I think is about the same as a Formula 3 car, but with Formula 1 downforce,” Verstappen said. “So, of course, you can imagine that driving a car is not very interesting.
“But honestly, I don’t want to sit here and complain again because somebody’s probably going to shoot me outside the door.
“But like I said, I’m just mentally adjusting to it. I’m trying to make the best of it.”
“Although, of course, this is not what I like, not what I like to do in Formula 1. But I can also sit at home and not race anything. But this also does not affect anything.
“So, I just try my best.”
The 2026 Formula 1 cars could theoretically produce around 1,000 hp. in ideal conditions, although when power is lacking, as is the case for most of the Spa lap, they feel more like Formula 2 cars (620bhp). Comparing Verstappen to Formula 3 cars (they have around 380bhp) would be extreme.
Ahead of the weekend, Lando Norris said: “You’re not even driving a Formula 2 car, you’re driving a Formula 4 car” as Formula 1 cars go from straight to corner at Spa, regardless of powerplant.
This makes the closure of the active aerodynamic wings at Blanchimont particularly painful for pilots, as there is a sudden drop in speed between the two forward mode zones that connect it, despite the absence of a braking zone.
Norris’ teammate Oscar Piastri was asked about Blanchimon after qualifying, but he pointed to another angle that he felt was botched.
“The Pujon was also quite nasty, or perhaps it would be more accurate to call it a straight line turn because it’s not a turn anymore,” Piastri said.
“(It’s) a shame because, firstly, it was always a great corner, and (secondly) for me it was always a good corner too.
“It’s strange how different things are this year and also how much power you have in the corners.
“Right now in a lot of places we only have the internal combustion engine giving us the power, so you come out of some corners with close to 1,000 horsepower, others you come out with 550 horsepower, 600 horsepower, whatever it is, so it’s quite difficult to figure it out.
“So it was definitely more difficult in some ways, but it was a completely different Spa compared to previous years (before).”
Ollie Birman was more diplomatic, saying: “It used to be a classic and fun track, this year it’s a little less interesting and fun to ride, but that’s what we’ve got.”
Sainz wonders how Formula 1 got here
Grand Prix Drivers’ Association director Carlos Sainz said that “nobody enjoys the qualifying lap as much as we did last year.”
Like Verstappen, he expressed restraint: “Having said that, I don’t want to further disparage my sport because it won’t do any good.
“I think we all know it’s not good enough. This needs to change.
“But whoever saw these simulations in 2022, 2023 and looked at them and said, ‘How can we even accept this?’ it is necessary to reconsider what happened there because it should never have happened.
“But now we’re here, we’ve got some exciting races, the sport is still growing, so it’s time to move on.”