Verstappen slams 2026 F1 ruleset as ‘Formula E on steroids’

Max Verstappen heavily criticized the level of driving enjoyment from the new Formula 1 cars that have been introduced for 2026, describing them at the Bahrain test as more like Formula E and saying he needs to find the cars fun to stay in the sport.

New power unit regulations – featuring a near 50:50 split between internal combustion and electrical energy – have vastly changed the driving approach required, while active aerodynamics have been introduced to reduce drag as a result of the energy weighting. Verstappen says you cannot drive flat out in the new cars and have to focus heavily on management, despite Red Bull making an encouraging start to pre-season testing.

“To drive, not a lot of fun, to be honest,” Verstappen said. “I would say the right word is management. But on the other hand, I also know how much work has been going on in the background. Also from the engine side, for the guys.

“It's not always the nicest thing to say, but I also want to be realistic. As a driver, the feeling is not very Formula 1-like. It feels a bit more like Formula E on steroids.

“But the rules are the same for everyone, so you have to deal with that. And that's also not my problem, because I'm all for that. Equal chances, I don't mind that. But as a pure driver, I enjoy driving flat out and at the moment, you cannot drive like that.

“There's a lot going on. A lot of what you do as a driver, in terms of inputs, has a massive effect on the energy side of things. For me, that's just not Formula 1. Maybe it’s then better to drive Formula E, right? Because that's all about energy efficiency and management. That's what they stand for.

“So driving-wise, it's not so fun. But at the same time, I also know what is at stake with the team, with our own engine. And seeing the excitement of the people, of course, when I sit in the car, I will always give it my very best. They know that. But the excitement level is not so high to drive.”

Verstappen likes the look of the new cars, but not much else. Glenn Dunbar/Getty Images

Verstappen praised the aesthetics of the new cars as the main positive he has found so far in 2026, as he feels the new regulations are not conducive to the type of racing he enjoys.

“I mean, I like the livery, the livery is great! The car looks great. Honestly, the proportion of the car looks good, I think," he said. "That's not the problem. It's just everything else that is a bit, for me, anti-racing.

“Probably people will not be happy with me saying this right now. But I am outspoken, and why am I not allowed to say what I think of my race car? I can't help that.

“I didn't write the regulation. If it was, I think, up to non-political aspects of making a regulation, I think anyway the car would have, probably the engine, whatever, would have looked very different. But yeah, that's how it is.”

When it was put to Verstappen that such a lack of enjoyment could hasten his departure from F1, the Dutchman reiterated that he needs to get satisfaction from the driving to remain in the category.

“A winning car for me, that doesn't matter. It needs to be fun to drive as well, I think at this stage of my career," he said. "I am of course also exploring other things outside of Formula 1 to have fun at. I know that we're stuck with this regulation for quite a while. So, yeah, let's see.”