FIA Reveals Changes to Belgian Grand Prix Amid Serious Power Concerns
At Spa-Francorchamps, there are multiple straights, more so than the average F1 track, which is causing concerns about how much power the cars will have.
The FIA, in an attempt to unlock more power on straight sections, has announced five Straight Mode zones at the track to minimize drag.
Straight Mode allows cars to activate a setting on the front and rear wings, which unlocks a speed boost similar to DRS.
Cars, apart from needing to deal with very long straights, will need to contend with a lack of braking zones.
Following the British Grand Prix, which featured a similar set of problems, Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso explained why the cars will face so many challenges.
βObviously, Silverstone and Spa, they are very thirsty on energy. You cannot deploy in all on the straights. Next week, it is going to be the same thing. If you deploy in Spa from Turn 1 to 5, it is finito for the rest of the lap,β Alonso said.
βSo, you need to save a little bit there to have deployment from 14 to the bus stop [chicane]. But if you deploy in those two straights, which is the optimal deployment, then there is one minute, sector two, with no deployment at all.
βAnd with no deployment at all, we cannot forget that this year we have significantly less power than last year and less power than F2, that is the case when you cut the deployment. So, yes, it is a challenge.β
How will the Belgian Grand Prix look?
For fans tuning in, they can expect a good number of overtakes, but they wonβt always be based on moves; rather, some cars conserve energy while others deploy.
This can be known as a βyo-yoβ effect, and it should be pronounced at Spa. However, with more overtaking zones, there should be a bit more aggression and tactics involved in this kind of racing.
However, those looking to see βpure racingβ may be disappointed by how each driver is forced to attack every lap.