Piastri delivers scathing assessment of 'crap' F1 regulations after Spa qualifying woes

Oscar Piastri has launched a scathing attack on Formula 1's 2026 power unit regulations, blaming computer-controlled energy deployment for ruining qualifying fairness at the Belgian Grand Prix. The McLaren driver said it was a "pretty crap way of going racing" when identical settings produced wildly different results, leaving him two tenths adrift of teammate Lando Norris despite matching him through the corners.

Why it matters:

When a championship contender argues that races are being decided by software rather than skill, it strikes at the heart of F1's identity. Piastri confirmed the issue spans all engine manufacturers, meaning no team is immune from power units so sensitive that even out-lap behavior can alter qualifying performance. As the sport leans heavier into electrification, the debate over who is really in control—the driver or the computer—is becoming impossible to ignore.

The details:

• Piastri qualified seventh at Spa after his Mercedes power unit's self-learning elements calibrated differently, denying him full battery deployment at crucial straights. Team principal Andrea Stella confirmed both drivers ran identical settings, isolating the issue entirely to the power unit's automated behavior.
• The problem was magnified by Spa's long straights, where McLaren already lacked straight-line speed. Piastri noted George Russell and drivers from rival manufacturers have encountered similar issues, confirming this is a grid-wide headache rooted in the new power unit architecture.
• Piastri's race was further compromised by contact with Charles Leclerc at Les Combes while battling for third. Stewards took no action, ruling that Leclerc held the racing line and Piastri's front axle was not sufficiently ahead to claim the corner.

What's next:

McLaren will introduce further upgrades in Hungary this weekend as it chases consistency at the front. Meanwhile, Piastri's blunt criticism amplifies growing paddock pressure on the FIA and manufacturers to rein in automated systems and put drivers back in charge of their own qualifying sessions.