Martin Brundle has voiced significant frustration with the current Formula 1 regulations following the Belgian Grand Prix, stating he had ‘a bit of a tear in my eye’ over the impact on iconic circuits. The Sky Sports F1 pundit believes the 2026 power unit rules have diminished the challenge of legendary corners at venues like Spa-Francorchamps and Silverstone.
Brundle’s comments align with sentiments expressed by Max Verstappen, who also highlighted the difficulties presented by the new power units. Verstappen described moments at Spa where the car felt like it had ‘Formula 3 power meeting F1 downforce’ due to energy deployment limitations.
The 2026 regulations, featuring a near 50/50 split of electrical and internal combustion power, have proven divisive. Brundle is advocating for the swift removal of this concept, ideally by 2030 or 2031, to restore the integrity of high-speed corners.
The Belgian Grand Prix, held on July 19, 2026, saw Kimi Antonelli secure victory from pole position at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps. Charles Leclerc finished second for Ferrari, with Max Verstappen completing the podium in third place.
Verstappen’s race was affected by an ill-timed Virtual Safety Car period, which he suggested cost him a potential fight for second position. Despite this, the Red Bull driver expressed satisfaction with a podium finish, having extracted maximum performance from his car.
Red Bull had reverted to an older specification rear wing for Verstappen at Spa, following incidents at the Austrian and British Grands Prix earlier this season. The team aimed for improved stability and performance with the revised aerodynamic package.
The race also featured an opening lap collision between George Russell and Lewis Hamilton, which resulted in Russell’s retirement. Russell attributed the incident to a critical power deployment issue with his Mercedes, leaving him vulnerable.
Hamilton, now driving for Ferrari, received a five-second time penalty for the contact. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff later acknowledged the power unit deficiency, stating the issue was ‘100% on us’ and supporting Russell’s frustration.
Brundle’s broader concerns about the 2026 power units underscore the ongoing challenges faced by drivers and teams in optimising energy management. The complexities of the current regulations continue to be a significant talking point within the paddock.
I’ve got a bit of a tear in my eye because we’ve lost all the great corners at Silverstone, and here we are at Spa with the same situation. These new regulations hurt us on the high speed circuits.
The former F1 driver believes that while the cars appear fast on track, the underlying complexities of the rules are proving difficult for everyone to fully comprehend and master. He advocates for a change to the current power unit philosophy.
