Heartbroken Martin Brundle left relishing 2026 F1 rule change after what he saw at Belgian Grand Prix

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The Belgian Grand Prix wasn’t necessarily the best advert for Formula 1 in 2025. The race was delayed for nearly an hour and a half due to adverse conditions.

The track wasn’t as wet as it had been at Silverstone a few weeks earlier, but F1 drivers were complaining about spray. They had next-to-no visibility on the Kemmel Straight.

This has led to renewed calls for improved wet tyres – Lewis Hamilton has pushed Stefano Domenicali to bring them in the past. When the race did eventually get underway, action was limited.

Oscar Piastri passed McLaren teammate Lando Norris for the lead at the restart, while George Russell quickly dispatched Alex Albon. The top six was set for the remainder of the race, with drivers like Max Verstappen and Hamilton stalling out as they lost ground in the turbulent air.

Martin Brundle wants corners like Eau Rouge to become more challenging for F1 drivers

Speaking on Sky Sports during the one and only Belgian Grand Prix practice session, Martin Brundle noted that the drivers were negotiating the first sector with ease. The fearsome-looking ascent up Eau Rouge has been comfortably flat-out for years.

Brundle says it ‘breaks his heart’ that the drivers are able to treat it as a straight. Some of the greatest corners in the sport have become far less challenging in this generation of cars.

However, that should change next year. The new aerodynamic rules will see a significant reduction in downforce.

• READ MORE: Everything we know about F1’s 2026 regulation changes from engines to tyres

F1 drivers will now be more reliant on bravery through corners like Eau Rouge, or Copse at Silverstone. Brundle is relishing the new regulations for that reason.

He said: “It slightly breaks my heart that, when it’s dry and everything’s in good condition, they consider the exit of La Source to the top of hill as a 23-second straight, flat-out. They don’t consider Eau Rouge and Raidillon as a corner anymore.

“That really does break my heart. I think it’ll change next year, mind you, with the different cars.”

The mooted change to the sporting regulations that could hurt Red Bull

While the technical regulations are more or less finalised already, the sporting rulebook is still under review. And there could be one particularly significant tweak.

The FIA could make protests more expensive after Red Bull sparked a controversy. They challenged George Russell’s victory in Montreal on grounds Mercedes considered frivolous.

Red Bull have pursued every possible avenue to slow their rivals down this year. The Milton Keynes outfit may have to rein this in if the new protest requirements come into place.

It’s possible that Laurent Mekies, Christian Horner’s replacement, will adopt a different leadership philosophy anyway.

The 2026 season gets underway with the Australian Grand Prix on 8 March. There will be three pre-season tests beforehand, the first of which will take place behind closed doors.