Max Verstappen clearly has a dislike for the new generation of Formula 1 cars, but why is F1’s biggest star speaking out so strongly? And why most drivers agree with him, despite not saying it in public.
“I want to be realistic as a driver — the feeling is not very F1-like. It feels more like Formula E on steroids”- Max Verstappen
We have been left in no doubt whatsoever; Verstappen is not a fan of the new Formula 1 regulations. Speaking to GPblog, the Dutchman didn’t hold back about the new cars. While most drivers neatly repeated the rehearsed PR lines from the FOM and FIA, Verstappen doesn’t mince words as he delivered his damning verdict: He thinks they are rubbish.
Verstappen slams new F1 cars
Verstappen even said that last year, he deliberately didn’t want to test the 2026 car in the simulator. The reason? He quickly realised it was a terrible car. So Verstappen chose to keep driving the 2025 car longer, just to enjoy that while he could.
And that says a lot. He complained about ground-effect cars throughout that entire era. He was happy to be done with them, but secretly already knew in 2025 that 2026 would only be worse. Once on track, it turns out the simulator was very close to reality.
Verstappen is certainly not the only one daring to speak out against the new cars. Lewis Hamilton had already been critical of the new regulations. According to the seven-time world champion, you’d need to have graduated to understand them. Fans, he said, won’t understand any of it.
Sergio Perez also sided with Verstappen on Thursday. The Mexican agreed with his former teammate that the current cars resemble a Formula E car more than something that fits Formula 1.
Why the F1 cars are under fire
The biggest issue for drivers is management. With a greater role for the electric side of the power unit, managing the battery becomes much more crucial. When to deploy which energy and when to use it—that’s the pain point for the drivers.
Drivers essentially have one wish: go flat out every lap, every corner, and every straight. In recent years, Formula 1 has increasingly become a sport that requires management. The tyres, the fuel, and now the power unit will also play a major role.
Drivers have already explained in Bahrain that on some circuits they’ll have to make specific choices. They’ll deliberately go slower through a corner in order to be faster on the straight. It becomes a race of algorithms. Because if you give up two tenths in the corner to gain three tenths on the straight, the choice is quickly made.
Verstappen threatens F1 retirement
Although all drivers will adapt to this new reality, the question is how long you can keep superstar Max Verstappen in F1. Verstappen was clear in Bahrain: “I don’t need to do this anymore. I’ve achieved everything already,” he told GPblog.
Verstappen has always said he’ll stay in F1 as long as he enjoys it. Being competitive is a condition, but so is the car he drives. This car clearly doesn’t suit Verstappen, who even hinted this could bring forward his exit from F1. A frightening prospect for fans, but also for F1 itself.
Poll
Read also
Popular on GPBlog
'Antonelli loses driver’s licence after road crash' — here’s what it means for his F1 career
F1 LIVE | Bahrain test day two reactions as Verstappen slams 2026 regulations
Norris fires back at Verstappen over F1 rules: 'If he wants, he can retire'
