{"id":476199,"date":"2026-02-13T00:40:20","date_gmt":"2026-02-13T00:40:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/476199\/"},"modified":"2026-02-13T00:40:20","modified_gmt":"2026-02-13T00:40:20","slug":"max-verstappen-slams-new-f1-regulations-in-ugly-anti-racing-rant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/476199\/","title":{"rendered":"Max Verstappen slams new F1 regulations in ugly \u2018anti-racing\u2019 rant"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Verstappen
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRed Bull driver Max Verstappen speaks to media during Day 2 of the pre-season Formula 1 test at Bahrain. Image: Moy\/XPB Images<\/p>\n

New power unit regulations mean energy from the internal combustion engine and electric motors is a 50-50 split, with battery power up from 130kW to 350kW.<\/p>\n

Early indications are that power management will, in some cases, require drivers to lift and coast during qualifying.<\/p>\n

Verstappen tempered his tirade with praise for the Red Bull Powertrains team behind the new Ford-branded power unit.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo drive, it is not a lot of fun, and to be honest, I would say the right word is management,\u201d Verstappen explained.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut on the other hand, I also know how much work has been going on in the background from the engine side, so it is not the nicest thing to say, but I also want to be realistic, as for a driver, the feeling is not very Formula 1-like.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt feels a bit more like Formula E on steroids, but the rules are the same for everyone, so you have to deal with that. That\u2019s not my problem because I\u2019m all for that and equal chances, but as a pure driver, I enjoy driving flat out, and at the moment, you cannot drive like that.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\"Max<\/p>\n

Max Verstappen on track during Day 2 of Formula 1 pre-season testing at Bahrain. Image: Bearne\/XPB Images<\/p>\n

The comments come on Day 2 of pre-season testing at Bahrain. The Red Bull driver was second-fastest on the Day 1, trailing McLaren\u2019s Lando Norris.<\/p>\n

The claims of lifting and coasting are not new, but Verstappen\u2019s comments are the harshest to date.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is a lot going on, a lot of what you do as a driver, in terms of inputs, which have a massive effect on the energy, and for me, that\u2019s just not Formula 1,\u201d said Verstappen, who completed 136 laps on Day 1 at Bahrain.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd maybe it would be better to drive in Formula E, right, because that\u2019s all about energy efficiency and management and that\u2019s what they stand for.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo driving-wise, it is 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 people, of course, when I sit in the car, I will always give it my best. They know that, but the excitement levels are not so high.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe livery looks great, the car looks great, the proportion of the car looks good, that is not the problem. It is just that everything else for me is a bit anti-racing.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd 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\u2019t help that, I didn\u2019t write the regulations.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf it was up to non-political aspects of making regulations, the car would have looked very different, but that is how it is.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Lando<\/p>\n

Lando Norris on track in the McLaren MCL40 during Day 2 of Formula 1 pre-season testing at Bahrain. Image: Price\/XPB Images<\/p>\n

Verstappen\u2019s future in F1 remains unclear. Although he is contracted to Red Bull long-term, there is an air of expectation that his satisfaction may determine his decision.<\/p>\n

The Dutchman has interests outside of F1, particularly in GT3 racing, and when asked whether he would take part in the Nurburgring 24, he joked: \u201cI mean, looking at it now, at least you can drive flat out there without looking after my battery.\u201d<\/p>\n

Verstappen\u2019s comments were put to 2025 champion Lando Norris, who offered a positive assessment of the new regulations.<\/p>\n

\u201cA lot of fun, I really enjoyed it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo yeah, if he wants to retire, he can retire. Formula 1 changes all the time; sometimes it is a bit better to drive, and sometimes it is not as good to drive, but we get paid a stupid amount of money to drive, so you can\u2019t really complain.<\/p>\n

\u201cI mean, any driver can go and find something else to do. It\u2019s not like he or any driver has to be here, but it is a challenge, a good, fun challenge for the engineers and drivers; it is different.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou have to drive in a different way and understand things differently and manage things differently, but I still get to drive cars and travel the world and have a lot of fun, so there is nothing to complain about.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t expect Max isn\u2019t going to go out and not give a shit, like he is still going to try and win, and Max is never going to not try. You\u2019re just not going to smile as much.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt certainly doesn\u2019t feel as quick as the last few years, and certainly doesn\u2019t handle as perfectly, but I am sure that if he came in and this was the first F1 car he started driving, then he would probably say it is amazing compared to the older cars.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t feel as pretty and as beautiful to drive, but it is still pretty good. It is still early days of a regulation [set] which is meant to be a good amount slower.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut if you fast forward to the end of the year and look at next year, we\u2019re going to be a lot quicker by then, so anyone can make their own opinions and have their own opinions and say and decide what they want to do.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo one should complain about that. Every driver has their own opinions, and he didn\u2019t like it, and I like it.\u201d\u201d<\/p>\n

Formula 1 testing is set to continue at Bahrain on Friday.<\/p>\n


\"\"\/
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