Coulthard Calls for Eau Rouge Battery Harvesting Ban on Safety Grounds
David Coulthard argues that F1's 2026 battery harvesting rules pose a safety risk at high-speed blind corners like Eau Rouge and are ruining the raw spectacle of qualifying. The 13-time grand prix winner wants specific corners exempted from energy recovery to prevent dangerous closing-speed incidents and preserve the sport's ultimate speed challenge.
Former F1 driver David Coulthard has proposed that iconic corners like Spa-Francorchamps' Eau Rouge should be designated as 'no-harvesting' zones under the 2026 regulations, citing critical safety concerns over closing speeds. He also criticized how the new emphasis on energy management is diminishing the spectacle of a pure, flat-out qualifying lap, arguing it removes the 'wow' factor for fans.
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