Formula 1 returned this weekend to the Spa-Francorchamps circuit to compete in the Belgian Grand Prix. This ribbon of asphalt in the Ardennes is one of the sport’s historic sites, having been featured in the first F1 season back in 1950. But as yesterday’s race demonstrated, current F1 machinery is not at all suited to this spectacular venue.
As we saw in Suzuka, Japan, earlier this year, an F1 2026 battery is capable of powering the race car’s electric motor for just a few seconds per lap; For much of the rest of the lap, the power-starved cars have less power to their rear wheels than in the F2 junior series.
The best race track in the world.
For many, including much of the current F1 grid, Spa is considered perhaps the greatest racing circuit on the planet. In fact, both Spa and the Belgian Grand Prix predate the F1 world championship, the first race of which was held in 1922. Back then, the circuit was a 9-mile circuit of public roads that passed through the towns of Malmedy and Stavelot before returning to Francorchamps. In the post-war years, the layout was shortened slightly to 14.1 km (8.7 mi) and was tremendously fast, with average lap speeds of up to 240 km/h (150 mph), and tremendously dangerous, given cars with enormous amounts of power and minimal concessions to safety.
