The concern centres on how little electrical energy the cars are expected to have through key sections of the lap, particularly the run from Copse through Maggotts, Becketts and Chapel and onto the Hangar Straight.
Unlike stop-start circuits, Silverstone has fewer heavy braking zones where drivers can recover energy, meaning the cars are expected to run low on battery through some of the fastest and most iconic corners in F1.
Max Verstappen raised the issue after the Austrian Grand Prix, revealing his simulator running for Silverstone had left him stunned by how different the circuit felt.
“Silverstone, I love the track, but I did a few laps on the simulator and I just started laughing,” Verstappen said.
“It felt like a different track, to be honest. You barely have battery around the lap.
“It’s just constantly flat [on the throttle]. So yes, it’s going to feel very different compared to what we are used to around Silverstone, because of the layout of the track.
“Here [in Austria] you have long straights and big braking zones, so you can charge the battery. There you have long straights but in a fast corner, for example, so you can’t really charge the batteries, and then the next straight you don’t have a lot [of electrical energy] to spend.
“It’s going to be a tough one.”
Verstappen’s concerns were echoed at Silverstone on media day for the British Grand Prix, where several drivers offered downbeat assessments of how the 2026 cars are expected to behave.
Lewis Hamilton said the issue had been widely discussed among drivers before the weekend, with the Ferrari driver expecting the power loss to be especially noticeable through the circuit’s fastest sections.
“I think this is going to be the most unprecedented weekend in terms of the power deployment,” said Hamilton.
“All us drivers have been talking in the drivers’ chat about just how poor the power is going to be through this track.
“We run out of battery power, there’s only a few corners to charge the engine, so the [MGU-]K will be switched off for a large portion of the lap.”
Hamilton said the loss of deployment through corners such as Copse, Maggotts and Becketts would make Silverstone feel almost unrecognisable compared to previous years.
“Honestly, I think it’s going to be huge. If you look at the speed traces, we start losing deployment going into Copse,” he said.
“Normally the engine’s screaming as you’re going into Copse, and you’re holding on for dear life as you go through there flat out.
“This year, the engine will be coasting down, most likely will be downshifting whilst full throttle, trying to keep the engine revs higher. It’ll be a long, long straight with no deployment, basically.”
Fernando Alonso was also pessimistic, saying the high-speed sections that once made Silverstone one of the most rewarding circuits on the calendar could be transformed into energy-saving zones.
Asked what Maggotts, Becketts and Chapel would feel like under the 2026 regulations, Alonso described it as “a charging station”.
“I think the next two races are going to be a different experience than what we’ve been used to driving in Silverstone and Spa,” Alonso said.
“This year is going to be very different and not fun to drive the cars. Looking at the simulator laps and things like that it’s going to be quite sad, I think, for the drivers, but also for the spectators.”
Haas driver Ollie Bearman said the biggest shame was that some of F1’s most famous high-speed sections no longer felt as special in the new cars.
“A lot of the tracks with the most character in the previous generation, the fast-flowing high-speed circuits now just lack reward when driving them, and that hurts a bit,” said Bearman.
“And one of maybe the ballsiest sections of track of the whole year – which was Maggotts and Becketts – this year it seems to be just one corner, and the bits before you’re going so slow because you don’t have any power that it’s not actually a corner anymore.”
His team-mate Esteban Ocon offered a similar view, saying Silverstone would not provide the same challenge as in previous seasons.
“The first part of the track will still be a good challenge,” said Ocon.
“Turn 1, you are still going to have the deployment, which is going to be pushing you quite hard.
“But after that, it’s not as rewarding and challenging as it was in the previous years.”
Sergio Perez said Silverstone would likely be the biggest examination yet of the 2026 regulations, even after changes aimed at easing some of the earlier energy management problems.
“I think it’s probably the best test we face so far, since Miami,” he said.
“The other circuits were not so critical with energy. I think this one is the biggest tests we are facing with these new regulations so far.”
Lando Norris offered a more measured view, suggesting the race could still deliver for fans even if the cars feel less spectacular from the cockpit.
“We’ll see. I think actually Sunday will be exciting,” Norris said.
“On the outside, I think it will be great. Certainly there’s going to be less challenges on the track itself compared to what you’ve seen in the past few years.
“Copse will certainly not be quite the same challenge it was over the last few years. Maggots, Becketts, maybe not quite the same challenge, but it’ll still be quick. I think it’ll still be good to watch.”
Norris admitted the experience would not be the same for drivers, but said Silverstone would still retain much of its appeal.
“Inside the car, it might not feel exactly the same and exactly as we want as drivers, pushing through Copse and feeling like you’re on the limit there and on the limits through Maggots and Becketts,” he said.
“So, it will still be good. It’s still Silverstone. We’re still in Formula 1. So in the end of the day, we can’t complain too much.”
George Russell was one of the few drivers to offer a more positive view, arguing the energy limitation could at least create better racing for fans.
“I think Silverstone will be great,” said Russell.
“With these regs, we knew there were going to be some tracks that were more difficult than others for 22 drivers to experience. 600,000 fans here, I don’t think probably care so much about energy management.
“And on the flip side, the tracks that are most challenging for the energy, such as Melbourne, China, they have so far produced better racing than we’ve seen in the past at those tracks.
“And there’s no doubt that tracks that are energy starved, their racing will be better, and it will be a bit more chaotic, so you could look at that as the positive.”
2026 F1 British Grand Prix – Schedule, how to watch, TV times & more
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