“Maybe he was harsh, but he is right”: Mansell defends Verstappen and criticises F1
When a former champion decides to speak out, it is never by chance. Nigel Mansell watches Formula 1 from a distance that allows him to see what often escapes those immersed in the present: subtle tensions, regulations that reshape the nature of the sport, and drivers beginning to question whether it is still worth staying. And so, while Max Verstappen openly criticises the current regulations and rumours of retirement begin to circulate, Mansell chooses to speak out. Not to defend a name, but to defend an idea of Formula 1 that risks slipping away.
A champion recognising another champion
Nigel Mansell, the 1992 Formula 1 World Champion, has expressed his support for Max Verstappen at a time when the Dutch driver is criticising the current regulations and speculation about a possible exit continues to grow.
In an interview with Sky Sports F1, the 72-year-old firmly dismissed any suggestion of retirement, while backing the four-time world champion’s honesty:
“No, no, no. Max is expressing his opinion. He is a class champion. He is an incredible world champion. What he has done over the last five years is astonishing. Last year he almost won the title.”
For Mansell, Verstappen’s words are not a casual attack, but a signal that deserves to be heard:
“He is rightly expressing how he feels. Maybe he was a bit too harsh. But Lando [Norris] and many other drivers… [the rules] simply need to be changed.”
A regulation that slows more than the brakes
Mansell does not stop at defending Max Verstappen — he questions the direction of Formula 1 itself. His target is energy recovery systems, “super clipping”, and the forced reduction of speed into corners.
“All this energy recovery, going into fast corners and slowing down from 50 to 70 kilometres an hour, that is not Formula 1. Formula 1 is drivers showing their talent… Fernando Alonso was very funny, saying: ‘My chef can drive the car.’”
His words reflect a growing sense of dissatisfaction across the paddock: drivers, teams and key figures are increasingly criticising regulations perceived as too restrictive and far removed from pure driving.
The FIA, for its part, has stated that it is in contact with teams and manufacturers to evaluate possible changes, should it deem them necessary.
Mansell is not speaking out of nostalgia, but clarity. He defends Max Verstappen because he defends a principle: Formula 1 must allow drivers to be drivers, not passengers of complex systems. And when two generations so far apart arrive at the same conclusion, perhaps it is no longer a criticism — it is a warning.
The alliance between Nigel Mansell and Max Verstappen proves that the desire for “pure racing” transcends generations. Mansell’s critique of the energy recovery systems echoes the frustrations of many fans who want to see drivers attacking corners at the limit, rather than managing battery levels.
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