F1MATHS: 3200 metres without brakes for Hamilton

Ferrari's seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton delivered a magical lap in Friday's Sprint Qualifiyng to secure pole position for the Silverstone F1 Sprint. On his way to his second Ferrari sprint pole, the Briton refused to use the brakes for 3200 metres.

Ahead of his 20th home race, Hamilton had expected his Ferrari to struggle down the long full-throttle sections of the Silverstone F1 Circuit only to dominate the sprint qualifying, setting the benchmark time in all three short segments.

Analysis of Hamilton's quickest lap shows the seven-time world champion did not touch the brakes from Turn 7 all the way through to Turn 16, a breathtaking run that includes Silverstone's most famous high-speed corners: Woodcote, Copse, Maggotts, Becketts, Chapel and Stowe.

In previous eras, drivers would typically lift or tap the brakes at several points through this section. But in 2026, with the new power unit regulations introducing a 50-50 split between combustion engine and electrical energy, the cars can now generate significant energy deploymentwithout the need for braking.

The biggest technical change to Formula 1's 2026 power units is the vastly expanded role of the electrical system. With the MGU-H removed, the MGU-K becoma the sole energy recovery device, but its output has almost tripled from 120 kW to 350 kW, dramatically increasing the importance of battery management.

Unlike previous generations, where the MGU-K mainly harvested energy under braking, the new regulations allow it to recover energy in different ways: under braking, on part throttle, when the driver lifts off the throttle, and through a new mode known as "super clipping."

Traditionally, clipping refers to the point on a straight where the battery is depleted and the MGU-K stops providing electrical assistance, leaving the car to rely solely on the internal combustion engine.

Super clipping turned that concept on its head. Instead of waiting until the driver brakes or lifts off, the MGU-K begins harvesting energy while the car is still at full throttle near the end of a straight or through a high-speed corner.

Although this slightly reduces acceleration at the end of the straight, it allows the battery to be recharged earlier, ensuring more electrical power is available where it matters most—on corner exits and during acceleration.

Reflecting on Ferrari's progress, Hamilton noted the team's significant improvements compared to last season and credited the engineers for their continuous upgrades.

"Last year we were kind of stuck in a rut, not a lot we could do. Now they're finding things, they're adding things to the car and this weekend, every single weekend we're bringing small little bits and adding performance to this car and it felt awesome."

Lewis Hamilton expressed surprise at the minimal engine gap between Ferrari and Mercedes, acknowledging the hard work of the Maranello team.

"The engine drop-off is not anywhere near what we anticipated. Yesterday they were scaring me. They were like, 'You're gonna be six tenths off in a straight line to these guys.

"In the last race, we were four tenths off in the straight line. But today all of a suden we're kind of there. And I was like, is this real? Are they going to turn up in qualifying? And we were right there competing with them. I always want to bring it back to everyone back at the factory because I can't say it enough. They're just pushing."

Mercedes young star Kimi Antonelli expects a tough battle in Saturday's Sprint against Hamilton: "The car felt good. Ferrari have done an incredible step forward, so definitely it's going to be very tough. Plus, Lewis is in great form, but that's good, we like the challenge and we'll try to make the best out of it."