Lando Norris Says F1 Cars Feel Like Formula 4 at Spa

Lando Norris has compared Formula 1 cars to Formula 4 machinery when using straight mode, while lamenting the reduced driving challenge at Spa-Francorchamps.

At the Belgian Grand Prix, drivers can activate straight mode five times by opening the front and rear wings. The system cannot be used through corners with high lateral loads, meaning the cars remain in corner mode through Eau Rouge, Raidillon and Blanchimont.

Norris believes the configuration will not make Eau Rouge a major challenge again. According to the McLaren driver, the downforce level in straight mode is too low, while the system immediately closes if the driver lifts off the throttle.

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“You have such low downforce, and the problem is that if you lift, it also shuts. The difference is too big when you go from open to shut,” Norris said.

Norris referred to Max Verstappen’s wing problem to illustrate the scale of the aerodynamic balance change. He believes even a very small difference in wing position can produce serious consequences, while an open wing leaves the car feeling well below Formula 2 performance levels.

“When it is open, you are not even driving a Formula 2 car. You are driving a Formula 4 car,” he added.

Norris believes the challenge of Eau Rouge can only be restored by tightening the corner, reducing overall downforce or providing more power through the section. He rejected the idea of simply making the corner more dangerous to increase the difficulty for drivers.

He also expects Pouhon could become relatively easy to take flat because of the limited power and energy available. Norris believes managing power deployment across different modes will create another form of challenge, but Spa will no longer be as demanding or as beautiful as it has been in previous seasons.