New Regulations Set to Reduce Speeds at Silverstone
Formula One world champion Lando Norris and seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton have reinforced concerns initially raised by Max Verstappen regarding the upcoming British Grand Prix. They anticipate that the race will present a fundamentally altered experience due to their cars struggling to maintain power on the high-speed Silverstone circuit.
Silverstone has traditionally been celebrated by drivers as one of the most demanding tracks on the F1 calendar, known for its combination of long straights and fast corners that allow drivers to push their cars to the limit.
However, the recently implemented regulations, which have sparked controversy and are generally unpopular among drivers, require more stringent energy management. This change is expected to negatively affect performance at Silverstone as teams face challenges in recharging sufficient electrical power to sustain top speeds.
“I think this is going to be an 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. That’s where [Ferrari] will struggle probably the most.”
Under the new regulations, Silverstone is classified as an “energy-starved” track. This designation stems from the limited heavy braking zones, which restrict opportunities for battery recharging. Consequently, drivers will need to regain energy through “superclipping” at the end of straights, a technique that reduces speed and may require lifting off the throttle and coasting, resulting in diminished power delivery.
“If you look at the speed traces, we start losing deployment going into Copse,” Hamilton explained. “So 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 we’ll be downshifting whilst full throttle, trying to keep the engine revs higher. Maggotts and Becketts is not going to feel the same because I think you have to lift and coast or something through there for a period of time. So it’s just a completely different track.”
Drivers Reflect on the Changing Nature of Silverstone
Hamilton’s perspective was shared by McLaren’s Lando Norris, who secured victory at Silverstone in 2026. He noted a reduction in the track’s challenges compared to previous years.
“Certainly there’s going to be less challenges on the track itself compared to what you’ve seen in the past few years,” Norris said. “We’ve gone from some of the fastest cars in high speed last year and to this year being a little bit less of a challenge.
“Copse will certainly not be quite the same challenge it was, pushing through Copse and feeling like you’re on the limit there and on the limit through Maggotts and Becketts. You’re still going to have some zones where you’re decelerating for longer periods than what you would like. That’s just the reality of what we have nowadays.”
Max Verstappen also agreed with his fellow drivers’ assessments of the track conditions under the new regulations.
Norris on Potential Teammate Verstappen and Competition
Addressing rumors about Verstappen possibly joining McLaren, Norris expressed confidence in his ability to compete against the Dutch driver in the same car.
“I do believe I can beat any driver. I think what makes Max so incredible is how he is over the course of the season,” Norris said. “What makes people great and elite is performing at that level in every practice, every qualifying, every race. That’s something that Max is able to do, probably better than almost everyone.
“I believe whether it’s him or having a chance to go against Lewis [Hamilton] or Fernando [Alonso], any of the drivers that people know are some of the best. It’s a cool opportunity for me at the same time. I’m excited for whatever may come my way in the future.”
