‘Anti-racing’ – Max Verstappen gives brutal verdict on new Formula 1 cars

Red Bull star Max Verstappen has delivered his brutal verdict on the new Formula 1 cars.

Verstappen, who finished second to Lando Norris in the 2025 Driver’s Championship, has slammed the new generation of vehicles after sampling the 2026 Red Bull car in Bahrain.

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In 2024, the FIA unveiled the “agile, competitive, safer and more sustainable regulations” that’ll come into effect this season.

Cars will now be 30kg lighter, making them more agile and better able to battle on the track.

Additionally, cars will be fitted with a redesigned power unit featuring increased power.

With that, the 28-year-old and Red Bull impressed the paddock with their pace.

However, while the new regulations will add a competitive edge to Formula 1, Verstappen was damning of the new cars during a three-day test event in the Middle East.

‘Formula E on steroids’

“To drive [they are] not a lot of fun, to be honest,” Verstappen said on Thursday.

“I would say the right word is management. It’s 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.

“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.

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“We’re energy poor. I just want normal driving, just how it should be without having to [say]: ‘Oh, if I brake a bit longer or less or more, or one gear up or down.’ It so heavily impacts the performance on the straights.

“Plus, the grip at the moment is quite low with these tyres and the car configuration. It is a big step back to how it was.”

Verstappen continued: “Honestly, the proportion of the car looks good, I think. 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 mean, 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 have looked very different.”

Max Power

Verstappen conceded that it pained him to be so frank about the change in cars and admitted that he is aware of how much time and effort the Red Bull team are putting into the engines.

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“On the other hand, I also know how much work has been going on in the background,” he said.

“Also from the engine side, for the guys. So, it’s not always the nicest thing to say. But I also want to be realistic as a driver, the feeling.

“I also know what is at stake with the team; 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. Excitement level is not so high to drive.”

Verstappen-down?

The 2024 champion has previously voiced concerns about the 2026 regulations and has hinted that he may walk away from Formula 1 once his contract comes to an end in 2028.

“A winning car for me, that doesn’t matter. It needs to be fun to drive as well,” Verstappen stated.

“I think at this stage of my career, I am 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.”

Verstappen finished just two points behind Norris in the 2025 standings after the four-time champion enjoyed a sensational second half to the season.