Max Verstappen says he wishes Formula 1 was “more fun” under new regulations as he gave an insight into his “a bit conflicted” mindset.
Verstappen has long been a critic of the new ruleset in Formula 1, whereby energy management has altered the style of racing, most prominently reducing the challenge through high-speed corners.
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At last weekend’s Australian Grand Prix, the track layout of which is expected to be one of the worst for energy management, drivers were lifting off long before the high-speed Turn 9/10 chicane due to “super clipping.”
Verstappen this week confirmed that his extracurricular activities in 2026 will include participating in the Nürburgring 24 Hours in May, having begun dabbling in GT3 competition last year.
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Verstappen has a contract in Formula 1 with Red Bull through 2028 and stressed, “I don’t want to leave really,” but that “I wish I had a bit more fun [in Formula 1], for sure.
“I’m also doing other stuff that is a lot of fun. I mean, I get to race the Nordschleife. Hope in the coming years I can do Spa, hopefully Le Mans. I’m combining stuff to find other stuff that I find really fun as well. Of course, my team going on, so I have a lot of distractions at the same time. Positive distractions I would call it.
“But at the same time, it’s a bit conflicting because I don’t really enjoy driving the [F1] car, but I do enjoy working with all the people in the team and from the engine department as well.
“I’m also doing other stuff that is a lot of fun. I mean, I get to race the Nordschleife. Hope in the coming years I can do Spa, hopefully Le Mans.”
“So no, I don’t want to leave [F1], but I also hope of course that it gets better. And I know, I mean, I’ve had discussions with FOM and FIA and I think we are working towards something, hopefully, and hopefully that will improve everything.”
Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso, the most experienced Formula 1 driver in history, offered his perspective.
“When you jump in a Formula 1 car, definitely you enjoy feeling fast and embracing the challenge,” Alonso said. “But it is a different challenge. That’s where you put the line, if these cars are more fun or less fun, and everyone will have their own opinion because it is a different challenge.
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“We used to fight for our lives in Turn 12 in Bahrain, Turn 9 and 10 in Melbourne, Sector 1 in Suzuka, 130R, Turn 7, Turn 8 here in China.
“There were always certain corners that in Formula 1 were challenging the limits of the physics going through those corners, and the driver had to use all the skills and be brave in some of the moments as well. When you put new tyres and you go through the corner at the speed that you’ve never been before in any of the free practices, that challenge is gone in a way. You use those corners to charge the battery, not anymore to make the lap time. So, it is a different challenge, what you face now behind the wheel. Still fun? Yes, we love racing. Is it the future? We don’t know.
“But yeah, it is a different challenge and because I grew up on the other one and I was challenging myself in the corners, I probably prefer the other one. But I was super lucky to race in that era and I still feel lucky that I race now, so I like both.”
U.K.-based Phillip Horton started covering Grands Prix while still at university and swiftly deemed that writing about Formula 1 and the behind-the-scenes machinations was much more engaging than reading centuries-old novels. Degree gained, he went on to cover the sport full-time from 2014 and is as intrigued and excited by the destinations Formula 1 visits during its lengthy annual world tour as the racing itself. Phillip joined Autoweek in 2021 and while he has just about learned to spell in American English he has yet to find anywhere in America that makes a proper cup of tea.