Eddie Irvine did not hold back when expressing his strong opposition to the new technical regulations introduced in Formula 1 starting from the 2026 season. The former Northern Irish driver, well known for his outspoken and unfiltered personality, described the entire regulatory revolution as a change that does not convince him at all.
“I don’t like it at all,” Irvine stated with his usual frankness in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, before adding: “They definitely need to make important changes, because it’s not possible that everything comes down to how charged the battery is. It feels like the performance of the car depends almost entirely on the level of electrical energy available, and that risks distorting the spirit of racing.”
While admitting that he is a big fan of electric cars — he owns as many as four — Irvine strongly criticized the idea of turning Formula 1 into a sort of ecological showcase. “I love electric cars and I have four in my garage, but it makes no sense to try to make the top category of motorsport ‘green’ at all costs. Formula 1 must remain a spectacle of speed, technology, and courage, not a green advertising campaign.”
The safety question
Another aspect that particularly concerns the former Ferrari driver is safety. According to Eddie Irvine, the new generation of cars could prove to be dangerous on track. To support his argument, he referred to an episode that occurred during the latest Japanese Grand Prix, when Oliver Bearman was forced into a very risky evasive maneuver to avoid Franco Colapinto.
“Bearman was going much faster than Colapinto and had to avoid him at the very last moment,” Irvine explained, before adding: “That scene reminded me terribly of the accident that cost Japanese driver Hitoshi Ogawa his life in Formula 3000 back in the 1990s. Fortunately, this time the two cars did not touch, but the situation could have become very dangerous.”
The future of Max Verstappen
Turning to the drivers’ market, Eddie Irvine also shared his view on the future of Max Verstappen in Formula 1. According to the Northern Irishman, the pinnacle of motorsport can continue its path even without the four-time world champion.
“Formula 1 absolutely does not need Max Verstappen,” he stated firmly. He then added: “There are many talented drivers ready to emerge and take the spotlight. Of course, it must be tough for him to suddenly find himself fighting in the midfield after years of dominance, but if he looks at his salary, there are more than 50 million good reasons to stay.”
Irvine acknowledged that for a driver of Verstappen’s caliber, it is not easy to accept no longer being consistently in contention for victories. However, he also joked that the substantial financial compensation represents more than enough motivation to continue racing at the highest level.
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