Formula 1's races at the British Grand Prix risk being "entertaining for the wrong reasons", according to Williams driver Carlos Sainz.

Ahead of the weekend, drivers feared Silverstone would be the most extreme circuit for these regulations since the mid-season rule changes introduced for the Miami GP two months ago.

The cars are particularly energy-starved around Silverstone's high-speed sections, as in sprint qualifying, 2026 pacesetter Lewis Hamilton was roughly 34km/h (21mph) slower than 2025 polesitter Max Verstappen at Abbey, around 20km/h (12mph) slower at Copse and with a top speed through Maggotts/Becketts that was 28km/h (17mph) down.

That should herald the return of a staple of the early 2026 F1 races - one limited in recent, more energy-rich races - with a likely comeback for 'yo-yo racing'.

There are ample opportunities for drivers to pass and repass each other at Silverstone, particularly with such differing engine profiles among the top teams - only the McLarens are starting next to each other among the top four teams.

"Probably one of the most entertaining tracks [for racing], in my opinion, for the wrong reasons, because we are very energy-starved," Sainz said. 

"We will be playing with 'spend [energy] here, but then you pass me back'. I think you will see a bit of yo-yo racing again this weekend, which, anyway, is what it is.

"The changes are done for next year, but the crowd is amazing."

His team-mate Alex Albon predicted: "It might not be legit overtakes, but there will be a lot of them." 

Another variable will be tyre choice, as while the frontrunners should choose the mediums, Pirelli believes some drivers outside of the points may opt for softs, which should create more overtaking. 

Split opinion on driving challenge 

The F1 drivers' group chat had been very active ahead of the weekend with drivers' complaints about how neutered Silverstone had become with these cars. 

"Less enjoyable for sure with the energy management, and we lost some of the special feeling of driving here at Silverstone just with the energy and the energy management," Lance Stroll said after sprint qualifying. 

"It's not that same kind of fast circuit that we had in the past. It's a shame. Is what it is."

Not everyone agreed. Valtteri Bottas, 20th in his Cadillac, called it "a different way of driving, but actually, it's better than I thought. It's still a super track, it's still enjoyable, and let's see tomorrow".

Polesitter Lewis Hamilton was very effusive too, though you'd maybe expect that from someone who has just topped qualifying for the first time in over a year - and was buoyed his Ferrari engine performed far stronger than expected versus the benchmark Mercedes.

"If you'd even heard me in the press conference, 'ah, the track's not going to be the same', because that's what we all thought, and the track's still phenomenal, the track still feels great," Hamilton said.

"The engine drop-off is not anywhere near what we anticipated."