Ever since pre-season testing, the Dutch driver has not hidden his dissatisfaction with the new regulations. After the Chinese Grand Prix, which ended with a retirement, he once again repeated that those who enjoy these new rules do not understand what real motorsport truly is. A direct attack that, in his own way, also targets Formula 1 itself.
“Maybe some fans like [this Formula 1], but they don’t understand racing. Hopefully we can get rid of this thing as soon as possible.” It is no secret that Max Verstappen is a very direct driver, someone who speaks without filters and who, when he feels the need to express his opinion, does not search for half measures. Instead, he forms a clear view and goes straight to the point without beating around the bush.
His comments after the Chinese Grand Prix, which ended with a retirement due to a technical problem on his RB22, followed exactly that path. Since the very first pre-season tests, the four-time world champion has not hidden his dissatisfaction with the new regulations, which are based around a 50-50 balance between electric and internal combustion power.
It is clear that increasing the electric component can bring certain advantages, including potential performance gains. At the same time, it is logical that such a significant technical leap — especially with an MGU-K delivering three times more power than before — requires adequate support for the hybrid system. For the moment, however, that support seems to be lacking.
This is an issue that some circuits can partly “mask,” but on certain tracks it will become even more evident because there will simply be less energy available to compensate. In those situations the speed differences become more pronounced, leading to duels filled with overtakes and counter-overtakes mainly because one of the drivers suddenly finds himself with an empty battery, as was already seen in Australia.
Some people have appreciated this kind of spectacle, which is extremely dynamic and somewhat reminiscent of Formula E, where numerous overtakes are common because — especially with the Gen3 cars — efficiency in energy management is crucial. On the other hand, there are those who have disliked these regulations from the very beginning, partly because of the feeling that they risk distorting the true nature of Formula 1. Max Verstappen himself clearly belongs to this group.
“It’s not good for the sport, it just shows how complicated everything is. Well, we could have expected it a long time ago, and of course everyone is always trying to prepare the car in the best possible way,” the Dutch driver commented, opening a long exchange in which he made his dissatisfaction with the new rules very clear.
“It’s terrible. If someone likes this stuff, then they really don’t know what racing actually is. It’s not fun at all. It’s like playing Mario Kart. This isn’t racing. Look at what happens: you overtake with the boost, then you run out of battery on the next straight and they overtake you again with their boost. For me it’s simply a joke.”
His view echoes the impressions that had already emerged in Australia. When a driver has energy available, the boost can create a huge speed difference because it allows the full 350 kW of the electric motor to be deployed. The problem is that with batteries this small the energy is consumed extremely quickly. If there are two consecutive acceleration zones, the risk is ending up without the possibility of defending yourself in the next section of the track.
This already happened in the past when there were two consecutive DRS zones, but with the new power units this type of on-track dynamic seems even more frequent and more pronounced. “I think I speak on behalf of most of the drivers. Some of them, of course, will say it’s fantastic because they’re winning races, and that’s fair. When you have an advantage, why would you give it up?”
“You never know if you’ll have a competitive car again. But if you talk to most drivers, this is not what we enjoy. And I don’t think it’s what real F1 fans enjoy either. Maybe some fans like it, but they don’t understand what racing is. I just hope we can get rid of this thing as soon as possible.”
“At the end of the day, only Kimi or George are winning. They’re light years ahead of the rest of the field. It’s just that sometimes Ferrari starts well, gets in front, and then it takes a couple of laps to put everything back in order. This has nothing to do with racing. I would say the same things even if I were the one winning, because I care about the sporting product. It’s not frustration about my position — actually I’m fighting even harder now, so you understand even better what you have to do and what it’s all about. For me it’s a joke.”
On one side there is a completely unfiltered Verstappen; on the other there is a Formula 1 that must also defend its commercial interests. It is obvious that immediately condemning a technical cycle that has only just begun — and one that was designed specifically to attract major manufacturers — is not part of the plans of the Formula One Management.
Moreover, it is no secret that part of the audience enjoys this type of on-track action, chaotic and filled with overtakes, somewhat similar to what is often seen in Formula E.
However, Max has a very different view, especially when looking at the long-term future of the sport. That stance should not come as a surprise considering that the Dutch driver has always made his love for motorsport the central passion of his life.
“I hope they don’t think like that, because in the long run it will ruin the sport. Sooner or later it will backfire on them. But as far as I’m concerned, as long as we can talk with them and make sure we work on some solutions, that will help a lot.”
“But it will also be very difficult to get everyone to agree, of course. Not everyone has to agree, but the majority does if you want to change something. But as I said, it’s politics, right? Some people feel they have an advantage right now and they obviously want to exploit it. And that’s fair, I understand it. I’m not stupid. But at the same time, if you look at the good of the sport, it’s not good.”
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