Max Verstappen talks Red Bull Powertrains progress and “stupid questions” from media. Max Verstappen shares his first impressions of the 2026 Red Bull engine.

Max Verstappen is making headlines again, this time not for an on-track duel but for a blend of humor, honesty, and some sharp remarks. As a guest on the Talking Bulls podcast, the four-time world champion shared his first impressions of the Red Bull 2026 power unit, and, as usual, he didn’t hold back with direct comments about the technical project or his relationship with the media.

During the podcast, the Dutch champion was asked about the sound of the first engine developed in-house by the Milton Keynes team, and he answered with one of his typical jokes:

“It makes noise.”

Expanding on the topic, Max Verstappen added:

“The sound was great. Sure, you hear it on a test bench, but it was clear. I’m not sure they develop it based on the noise, but it was a nice sound. It’s not a V10, but…”

This comment, both humorous and insightful, reflects the growing curiosity surrounding the Red Bull Powertrains project.

Meanwhile, Verstappen is still processing the disappointment of Abu Dhabi, where he narrowly missed overtaking Lando Norris, losing out on what would have been his fifth consecutive world championship by just two points. A bitter ending, but it hasn’t dulled his frankness.

Later in the podcast, Max Verstappen was asked how he would improve Formula 1 communication in his “ideal version.” His response was immediate and unfiltered:

“Don’t ask so many stupid questions, because if you ask a stupid question, you’ll get a stupid answer.”

Max Verstappen’s relationship with the media has been tense for years, with several friction points. The latest incident came just weeks ago, when he was asked if the contact with George Russell in Barcelona cost him the title—a question he clearly did not appreciate, reigniting the discussion about his interactions with the press.

Max Verstappen remains the paddock’s most unapologetic figure, offering a rare glimpse into the “crisp” sound of Red Bull’s 2026 engine while simultaneously making it clear that his patience for media scrutiny has not increased despite the off-season break. As Red Bull moves closer to its era as a power unit manufacturer, their star driver seems more focused on technical substance than PR-friendly narratives.