McLaren point to 'starvation' influence to enliven Belgian GP

McLaren boss Andrea Stella has explained how the energy starvation at Spa will enliven the Belgian Grand Prix weekend.

The coming race weekend is expected to be one of the toughest for the 2026-spec engines with the 50:50 power output between the ICE and the batteries, with Fernando Alonso explaining that drivers could be "finito" on laps if they deploy their energy too early in the lap - leaving them exposed for the blast from Stavelot back to the start/finish line.

With only three heavy braking zones on the circuit - La Source, Les Combes, and the Bus Stop chicane - opportunities to harvest energy around the 7.004km lap are limited, with no such zones in the middle sector of the lap, featuring corners such as Pouhon. 

This means drivers will be juggling their energy levels to ensure they do not run out of power at key points, which, like Silverstone last time out, creates the opportunity for a good racing spectacle - even if it is not comfortable for the drivers themselves.

Explaining the tricky balancing act, McLaren boss Stella spoke at length of the energy management tightrope and the use of straight mode, which will feature five zones, but not through corners with high lateral loads, including Eau Rouge, Raidillon, and Blanchimont.

"Spa will be an interesting track and similar to Silverstone, a heavily-energy starved circuit," Stella told media, including RacingNews365.

"At Silverstone, the preoccupation we had to start with in terms in lacking energy was somewhat mitigated, and we had good racing, even if the drivers still raise flags in terms of how unpredictable the speed difference is. 

"This is a point we should listen to because when the drivers talk like that, they do it for a reason, so I think we should take away this element of concern.

"It may be similar in Spa; the straights are longer at Spa, and there will be some challenges in terms of power unit exploitation. 

"It will be about energy deployment, and in some areas, you will not be able to deploy straight mode, because even though they are full throttle areas, there is some lateral force, so we will not be allowed - and there will be challenges in terms of opening [the wings] and grounding, for instance. 

"We will see if some teams actually bring low drag packages like we used to see in Spa, and we will see the interpretation of these regulations, because with the straight mode now, you are less incentivised to use a smaller wing.

"In the past, you would come here with a smaller wing, but teams did not do this, so it is interesting to see if it happens at Spa.

"I think we will see quite exciting racing when it comes to overtaking because of the deployment for the same reason of energy starvation at Silverstone."