By Tom Cary
Max Verstappen has warned Formula 1 that its new rules “will come back to bite it in the ass” and ruin the sport unless swift changes are made.
In another scathing attack on F1’s new 50-50 electric hybrid era, the four-time world champion added that fans who enjoyed the spectacle at the first two races of the season in Australia and China did “not understand racing”.
“It’s still terrible,” the Red Bull driver said after he failed to finish the Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday. “I don’t know if someone likes this, then you really don’t know what racing is about.
“It’s not fun at all. It’s playing Mario Kart. This is not racing. Look at the racing. You are boosting past, then you run out of battery the next straight. They boost past you again. For me, it’s just a joke.”
Verstappen’s latest outburst was rejected by Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, who described his battle with teammate Charles Leclerc on Sunday as “the best experience I have had in racing”. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, meanwhile, suggested Verstappen’s frustrations stemmed from having a difficult car.
What is true is that the 2026 regulations have divided opinion. Teams will meet this week with Nikolas Tombazis, the FIA’s director for single-seater racing, to discuss the concerns of Verstappen and others. But there will be no changes before Japan in two weekends. Instead, a working group is likely to be established to look into possible tweaks before the Miami Grand Prix on May 3.
Max Verstappen has criticised the new changes to Formula 1 cars.Credit: Getty Images
Verstappen was speaking after retiring on lap 45 of the Chinese Grand Prix due to an energy recovery system (ERS) failure. He had been in sixth place at the time of his retirement, behind Haas’ driver Oliver Bearman, following a recovery from another poor start. Verstappen also finished sixth at the season-opener in Melbourne.
Wolff later suggested that his difficulties with the Red Bull were potentially clouding his views.
“I mean, Max is really, I think, in a horror show,” Wolff said. “When you look at the onboard that he has in qualifying yesterday, [the Red Bull] is just horrendous to drive. You can see that. But it’s not the same with many other teams.
“I think, from an entertainment perspective, I believe that what we’ve seen today, between Ferrari and Mercedes, was good racing. We were all part of Formula 1 where there was no overtaking. Sometimes we are too nostalgic about the good old years. But I think the product is good in itself.”
Chinese Grand Prix race winner Kimi Antonelli (centre) with teammate George Russell (left) and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton on the podium.Credit: Getty Images
Hamilton, who finished third in China after a long battle with his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc, also praised the new cars.
“It is way easier to follow,” the seven-time world champion reported.
“There is not too much wake. It is the best experience I have had racing in F1. It is awesome. There was a thin piece of paper between us, but we didn’t exchange any paint. It was about racing with respect for each other. It was like karting again, with us swapping positions again and again.”
Max Verstappen retires from the Chinese Grand Prix.Credit: Getty Images
Verstappen, though, insisted his criticisms did not stem from Red Bull’s lack of competitiveness. Rather, he turned the tables on Wolff and Hamilton, arguing they were talking up the spectacle because it suited them.
“Some, of course, will say it’s great because they are winning races, which is fair enough,” he said. “You know, when you have an advantage, why would you give that up? Because you never know if you’re going to have a good car again.
“But if you just speak to most of the drivers, it’s not what we like. I don’t think it’s what the real F1 fans like. Maybe some fans like it, but they don’t understand racing. But hopefully we can get rid of this.”
On whether the increased number of overtakes may cloud any future decisions, Verstappen added: “I hope they don’t think like that, because it will eventually ruin the sport. It will come and bite them back in the ass.
“For me, as long as we can just communicate with them and make sure that we are working on some solutions that will help a lot. But it’s also going to be very difficult for everyone to agree, of course. Not everyone needs to agree, but most of the people have to agree to make changes. But like I said, it’s political, right?”
Telegraph, London
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