Max Verstappen said that of all the Formula 1 eras which he has experienced, the new regulations have created his \u201cleast favourite\u201d era.<\/p>\n
But, while Verstappen<\/a> is not finding the new F1 cars very fun, he assured Red Bull and engine partner Ford that he will give absolutely everything he has, every time that he is at the wheel.<\/p>\n Max Verstappen says F1 2026 is his least favourite era<\/p>\n Want more PlanetF1.com coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list<\/a> for news you can trust.<\/p>\n Barcelona and Bahrain testing is in the books. There, teams and drivers got the chance to get to grips with a very different style of Formula 1 car, compared to the ground-effect machines left behind.<\/p>\n Speaking from Bahrain testing, Verstappen told the \u2018Up To Speed\u2019 podcast about how the driving experience has changed.<\/p>\n \u201cThe car has less grip. It accelerates a lot faster out of the corner.<\/p>\n \u201cAlso, the whole layout of the car is completely different. The tyres are different, so the way you have to drive it around the corner is very different, because the grip is also generated a little bit differently, less through the floor. You are sliding around probably a little bit more, and then you have more power coming out of the corner. So with less grip, that\u2019s a bit harder to manage.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd of course, it depends also a bit what kind of corner you\u2019re coming out of. So the lower speed corners, you\u2019re just waiting a longer period of time to go full throttle.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is actually a bit of a change, I would say, to over the last few years, where you would jump back in the car in pre-season, and it\u2019s like muscle memory, and it\u2019s just a better car normally than the year before, and immediately you\u2019re back into things, and it\u2019s actually a very long day of just going through test items.<\/p>\n \u201cBut now, you definitely need to rethink your driving and approach a little bit as well.\u201d<\/p>\n The word \u201cmanagement\u201d comes to mind for Verstappen, a term which he thinks will sum up F1 2026.<\/p>\n That is a nod to the significantly increased amount of battery management required. Verstappen has already been critical of this, with most drivers following suit.<\/p>\n Verstappen went as far as to call F1 2026 \u201cFormula E on steroids.\u201d<\/p>\n Therefore, Verstappen was asked, sarcasm detected, whether this F1 generation is his favourite of all that he has experienced.<\/p>\n Debuting in 2015, Verstappen was there for the move to wider cars, the ground effect rise and fall, and now the sport\u2019s new era of smaller, lighter cars and increased electrification.<\/p>\n \u201cProbably I would say least favourite,\u201d he confirmed.<\/p>\n \u201cBut that is because I think the word that you can use for the whole year will be management. I think that\u2019s the right word.\u201d<\/p>\n More F1 2026 driver reaction from PlanetF1.com<\/p>\n Fernando Alonso compares F1 2026 cars to \u2018rental car\u2019 as driver influence falls<\/a><\/p>\n Norris performs U-turn on F1 2026 cars to support Verstappen comments<\/a><\/p>\n Verstappen stressed that his lack of enthusiasm for the new F1 will not mean a lack of effort.<\/p>\n F1 2026 is a huge year for Red Bull, as its very first engine, developed in partnership with Ford, hits the grid.<\/p>\n Barcelona and Bahrain testing featured remarkably few reliability issues for either Red Bull team, considering that the Red Bull Powertrains Ford operation was built from scratch over recent years.<\/p>\n \u201cI mean, at the end of the day, when you go into competition, you will always do the best you can with what you have, because it\u2019s the same for everyone,\u201d Verstappen continued.<\/p>\n \u201cBut, sometimes things can be more enjoyable than others, and for me personally, it\u2019s not so enjoyable.<\/p>\n \u201cBut I do know, of course, that when I sit in the car, I will always give it my best, because also the people that have designed the car and the engine this year, it\u2019s been honestly incredible to witness how these guys have started from zero and have given us a power unit that is running well. We don\u2019t have any issues.<\/p>\n \u201cIs it fast enough? I have no idea. We have to wait and see.<\/p>\n \u201cBut honestly, it\u2019s just incredible to work with all these great people. And for me to then say that it\u2019s the least enjoyable, is not very nice. But, I also want to say that I know that when I sit in the car, of course, I will always give it my very best.<\/p>\n \u201cBut, yeah, it\u2019s just not really enjoyable. I mean, it\u2019s not pure Formula 1.\u201d<\/p>\n Want to be the first to know exclusive information from the F1 paddock? Join our broadcast channel on WhatsApp<\/a> to get the scoop on the latest developments from our team of accredited journalists.<\/p>\n You can also subscribe to the PlanetF1 YouTube channel<\/a> for exclusive features, hear from our paddock journalists with stories from the heart of Formula 1 and much more!<\/p>\n F1 2026 gets underway with the Australian Grand Prix. Free practice at Albert Park commences on 6 March.<\/p>\n