Lewis Hamilton has called out the 2026 regulations after underwhelming qualifying experience for the 2026 Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix.
Hamilton will line up on the third-row of grid for the 44-lap race around the iconic Spa-Francorchamps cirucit, on Sunday.
Historically, the Belgian GP has been a thrilling affair for both, fans and the drivers.
The ever-changing elevation changes, and the fast sweeping corners complement some of the fastest-known straights on the calendar like the Kemmel Straight.
This year, however, that particular ‘thrill’ has evaded the drivers, in qualifying. The all-new technical regulations, with a 50-50 split between electrical and combustion propulsion has seemingly sapped the fun out of tackling Spa for the likes of Carlos Sainz and Hamilton.
Sainz had blasted the new regulations, on Saturday, after drivers lost a staggering 50kmph in the final sector purely because the engines had run out of battery.
The Ferrari driver echoed the sentiments of his predecessor, questioning how the current rule-set was even approved if simulations were run back in 2022.
“I’m pretty sure, yeah, we saw it straight away,” he told media including Motorsport Week when asked if the teams had predicted this, this weekend.
“I don’t know who made the decision, whoever it is, they’ve still got their job.”
Lewis Hamilton laments ‘not that great’ 2026 F1 cars after Belgian GP qualifying
At the start of the season, the seven-time World Champion had been one of a few proponents of the latest generation of F1 cars.
That said, with such glaring downsides, on tracks that have been cult classics, even Hamilton couldn’t defend the current state of affairs.
Speaking about his experience pushing his SF-26 right to its limits, Hamilton lamented its straight-line performance.
“In Q3 the car was feeling really good, and I did a bit of a long run and the car was feeling great,” he added.
“It is a slightly different, subtly different car set-up-wise, so I’m still hoping it’s good as well.
“I mean it’s just not good on the straights. Through the corners, the cars are great, it’s just in the straight line that’s not great.”
Notwithstanding, Hamilton would be eager to take advantage of his long run pace in the SF-26 to bag his sixth podium of the season with the iconic Italian marque, on Sunday.
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