Alonso designs his dream circuit as Perez spots the 2026 rules trap

Fernando Alonso pieced together his ideal Formula 1 circuit from three sectors on the current calendar. But Sergio Perez was quick to identify the problem that, under the 2026 regulations, would turn that dream layout into a nightmare to drive.

Asked to imagine the circuit during a stage appearance alongside other drivers, Alonso chose sections known for their speed and aerodynamic demands. “I think it will be, yeah, again Suzuka sector one,” he said, referring to the S Curves. He then picked Spa’s second sector and Barcelona’s third.

The combination won over the crowd and interviewer, but Perez highlighted the technical problem it would pose under the new 2026 engine regulations. A circuit combining Suzuka’s sustained flow with Spa’s long full-throttle stretches would drain a 2026 battery very quickly. “There will be a lot of clipping on that circuit,” Perez joked, pointing to the project’s technical limits.

Alonso answered with a show of confidence in the 2026 Honda engine programme: “Not for us,” he said, prompting laughter from the crowd. The hybrid circuit linking Suzuka, Spa and Barcelona will remain a simulator scenario, but the exchange shows how much the 2026 regulations change the way Formula 1 drivers have to think about circuits.