Martin Brundle admitted he was left with “a bit of a tear in his eye” after seeing some of Spa-Francorchamps’ iconic and challenging corners, which have been rendered virtually irrelevant this year by the cars and rules of Formula 1. As at Silverstone two weeks earlier, the use of engines changed the spectacle of the much-loved Belgian Grand Prix circuit.
Both historic circuits feature world-famous high-speed sections where fans love to watch Formula 1 cars fly. And drivers also love the challenge posed by corners like Maggotts and Becketts at Silverstone and the fast complex at Spa, which starts at Eau Rouge and Raidillon before heading down the famous Kemmel Straight.
But at the British Grand Prix two weeks ago, drivers complained that it was now much easier to get through those high-speed sections because their car’s batteries were draining, so the speed at which they went around those corners was nowhere near what it was as recently as last season.
The same thing happened at Spa-Francorchamps this weekend, turning a circuit that is usually highly respected and feared into a relative pushover for drivers. Former Formula One driver and veteran broadcaster Brundle lamented the situation, making it clear he couldn’t wait to see the end of this rule cycle.
Speaking live on Sky Sports F1 ahead of Sunday’s Grand Prix, Brundle said: “I think we’re still trying to figure it out, to be honest. It brought tears to my eyes because we lost all the great corners at Silverstone and here we are at Spa with the same situation. These new rules are hurting us on high speed tracks.
“We’re doing something about it in ’27 and ’28, and we need to get rid of this concept as soon as possible, in 2030 or 2031. Other than that, this is what we have and when I go out on the track on Friday, wow, they look fast. And when they’re side by side, diving and diving, it’s a lot of fun to watch. But now they need to overcome all the difficulties, and there are many of them.”
The upcoming changes Brundle talked about were ratified by the World Motor Sport Council in June. Over the next two years, engines will move from a roughly 50/50 split between combustion and electric power to a roughly 60/40 split in favor of ICE and clean fuels, resulting in less reliance on the battery.
This should alleviate some of the power loss that cars experience during a lap, as the battery won’t drain as quickly. However, many see this as nothing more than a temporary solution until wider changes are made, but this is unlikely to happen until the end of this regulatory cycle, which could happen in 2030 or 2031, as Brundle also mentioned.