Max Verstappen is far from satisfied with the new 2026 F1 cars and didn’t hold back with his rather critical comments. The four-time world champion expressed his frustration about the driving experience, even making a very strong comparison.
“I want to be realistic as a driver, the feeling isn’t very Formula 1. It feels more like Formula E on steroids,” he said in an interview with GPblog and other media outlets.
Verstappen critical of the 2026 F1 cars
The Dutch driver explained that the most noticeable change is the inability to drive consistently at the limit, as was possible in the past. “The rules are the same for everyone, so you have to accept them, and it’s not even a problem for me because I’m in favor of a level playing field. That doesn’t bother me. But as a pure driver, I enjoy always pushing to the maximum, and at the moment, you can’t do that,” he added.
According to Max Verstappen, energy management affects the car’s behavior too significantly. “There’s so much to manage. Much of what you do as a driver, in terms of inputs, has a huge effect on the energy side. For me, this isn’t Formula 1. Maybe then it’s better to drive in Formula E, right? Because there, everything is based on efficiency and energy management, that’s what it’s about. From a driving point of view, it’s not that fun.”
Red Bull remains a reference despite criticism
Despite Verstappen’s harsh words, Red Bull has been recognized by many insiders as one of the benchmarks for power unit performance and energy management. Even Toto Wolff has acknowledged the level achieved by the Milton Keynes project.
Even Carlos Sainz, who technically has one of the most competitive power units on the grid, admitted to being impressed by the new Red Bull, indirectly confirming the Mercedes team principal’s assessment.
This creates an interesting paradox. On one hand, Verstappen criticizes the technical philosophy of the new F1 cars. On the other, his team seems to have interpreted those very regulations in the most effective way, even if he finds them less exciting to drive.
The 2026 season will therefore be a decisive test. Technically, to see who has found the best balance between combustion and electric. But also philosophically, because the debate over what Formula 1 should really be is more open than ever.
The transition to a hybrid-heavy 50/50 power split is forcing drivers to become energy managers as much as racers. As the 2026 season approaches, the focus will remain on whether these “Formula E on steroids” cars can still deliver the spectacular wheel-to-wheel action fans expect, or if the sport has truly shifted its DNA toward a battle of software and efficiency.
Leave a Reply