Let's talk about the recent Formula 1.5 debacle at Spa-Francorchamps, a circuit that has seen its fair share of controversial moments. This iconic track, with its rich history, has become a breeding ground for some truly bizarre and unfortunate incidents. From the 2021 race that started late and ended abruptly to the 1985 fiasco where an experimental track surface led to the entire event's cancellation, Spa has had its share of headaches.
Now, the 2026 weekend joins this ignominious list. What used to be a thrilling experience, driving through Pouhon, has turned into a flat, uninspiring lap for the world's best drivers. They roll their eyes, questioning how it all came to this. Carlos Sainz, a prominent driver, sums it up perfectly: "I think no one is enjoying the qualifying lap as much as we did last year." He's right; these cars have lost their edge at Spa.
The commercial rights holders' response? A classic case of "nothing to see here." They avoided showing onboard footage of the cars in the most affected areas, almost as if they were trying to hide the issue. But let's give them credit for their audacity; they shared Antonelli's pole lap on social media, minus the usual graphics, a bold move indeed.
Oscar Piastri puts it bluntly: "When you've got qualifying grids decided by computers, it's a crap way of going racing." And he's not wrong. The pole lap time was almost four seconds slower than last year, and a Formula 2 car was closer in pace to an F1 car. It's a worrying trend.
The speed differences at the start of the Belgian GP were a stark warning. Drivers like Max Verstappen described it as a "jungle." And he's right; it's a dangerous precedent when drivers are at the mercy of machine-learning algorithms, barely in control of their cars. It's a recipe for disaster, and it's only a matter of time before a serious incident occurs.
Interestingly, UK viewers had a choice between watching the Grand Prix and a game show, "Deal Or No Deal." Long-term, it might be cheaper to watch the latter. Piastri's frustration is palpable: "It sucks... when software determines how much energy we're granted." He's not alone in feeling powerless.
So, what's the solution? Perhaps a Formula 1.5 category is the answer. We need to address these issues before they spiral out of control. The future of Formula 1 is at stake, and it's time to take action.
