The current Formula 1 cars are proving ill-suited for historic and high-speed circuits like Spa-Francorchamps. The 2026 hybrid power units offer limited battery energy, forcing drivers to conserve power on much of the lap, resulting in less power than junior F2 cars in some sections.

This reduced power impacts performance on challenging corners like Eau Rouge and Raidillon, where drivers now coast to recharge batteries instead of attacking at full speed. Max Verstappen commented that for most of sector two, cars run at around 450-500 bhp, which is "not very exciting to drive."

George Russell experienced significant straight-line speed issues, attributing them to AI energy management systems. This led to a collision with Lewis Hamilton, resulting in Russell's retirement and a penalty for Hamilton. Despite these challenges, Kimi Antonelli secured another victory, highlighting the unpredictable nature of racing with the current car technology.