Formula 1 teams face new obstacles at this weekend’s British Grand Prix, especially with regard to energy management and the high speeds of the circuit. Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton have already signaled that victory will depend directly on the best energy control strategy for the cars.

Max Verstappen’s warning about energy management

Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen revealed that, when simulating the race with the new car, the battery situation made him “start laughing”, describing the track as “different” in terms of energy demand.

The Dutchman explained that the car’s battery remains almost completely discharged throughout the Silverstone lap, generating a very different sensation than usual. He compared it to Austria, where long straights and intense braking zones make recharging easier.

At Silverstone, however, the layout features include long straights, but also high-speed curves. This combination prevents efficient energy recovery, meaning drivers have little power available on the following straights. This difficulty is amplified because the kinetic energy recovery system (MGU-K) depends on strong decelerations, something less frequent in a predominantly fast and fluid circuit.

How energy recovery works in Formula 1 cars

Energy recovery in F1 cars occurs primarily during braking, in curves, where the Motor Generator Unit – Kinetic (MGU-K) converts kinetic energy into electricity. Despite this, pilots also rely on the less obvious technique of superclipping, which allows for extra strategic use of power. Silverstone, with its fast corners and fewer hard braking points, challenges the effectiveness of this system.

Lewis Hamilton echoes fears about impact on performance

Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton echoed Verstappen’s observations but presented his concerns in a more cautious tone. The seven-time world champion shows uncertainty about the real impact that the Silverstone route will have on the overall performance of the cars.

Hamilton highlighted the abundance of straights and the numerous overtaking opportunities at Silverstone, contrasting with the scarcity of ideal points for recovering power. Despite this, he emphasized that it is still “difficult to say” what the extent of the challenge posed by energy management will be.