Franz Tost is enjoying the new era of Formula 1 racing, but he understands why drivers like Max Verstappen aren\u2019t happy with the battery harvesting and super clipping.<\/p>\n
After all, it takes away one of the driver\u2019s strengths \u2013 braking late.<\/p>\n
Franz Tost explains Max Verstappen\u2019s frustration with 2026 F1 cars<\/p>\n
Want more PlanetF1.com coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google<\/a> to your favourites list for news you can trust<\/p>\n Verstappen<\/a> dominated Formula 1\u2019s ground-effect aerodynamic era with Red Bull, winning three of four world championships, including a record-breaking 19 Grand Prix wins in a 22-race season in 2023.<\/p>\n He lost the world title to Lando Norris in the final season of that era as McLaren caught and passed Red Bull on the track.<\/p>\n His chances of winning it back in the first season with Formula 1\u2019s new generation of cars have been sorely dented in the first seven race weekends with Verstappen on 55 points to championship leader Kimi Antonelli\u2019s 156.<\/p>\n The Dutch racer has made it clear that he\u2019s not enjoying the new era, not because of the technical regulations, but because of the new engine rules.<\/p>\n This year\u2019s power units are run on a 50\/50 split between electrical and combustion power that has necessitated battery harvesting and super clipping at the end of the straights to recharge the batteries. <\/p>\n Not only are the drivers losing speed as they reach the end of the straights, but they also aren\u2019t able to attack the corners full-on as they could with the previous engines.<\/p>\n While many of the drivers aren\u2019t happy, Verstappen has been the most vocal.<\/p>\n The Red Bull driver has called today\u2019s generation of cars \u201cMario Kart\u201d or \u201cFormula E on steroids\u201d, and simply said it is not \u201cfun\u201d to drive.<\/p>\n Former Toro Rosso, now Racing Bulls, team boss Tost says that\u2019s because it has erased one of Verstappen\u2019s main strengths, a strength he says Lando Norris and Fernando Alonso also have \u2013 braking late.<\/p>\n \u201cI haven\u2019t seen a single boring race this season,\u201d the Austrian told Krone. <\/p>\n \u201cSure, there have been a lot of discussions about the new regulations. I can also understand the frustration of the top drivers.<\/p>\n \u201cDrivers like Max Verstappen, Lando Norris, or Fernando Alonso used to be able to exploit their strengths under braking.<\/p>\n \u201cBut if you have to lift off the throttle 10 or 20 metres before the braking point to recharge, that advantage is lost.\u201d<\/p>\n On Tuesday, the FIA\u2019s World Motor Sport Council officially ratified changes to the power unit ratios<\/a> for the 2027 and 2028 seasons.<\/p>\n More on Max Verstappen PU\u2019s gripes as he contemplates F1 future<\/p>\n Max Verstappen \u2018will not go away\u2019 amid ongoing F1 future speculation<\/a><\/p>\n Max Verstappen manager drops biggest hint yet over Red Bull future<\/a><\/p>\n The agreement between the FIA and the sport\u2019s power unit manufacturers to switch to a 58-42 split in favour of ICE in 2027 followed by a 60-40 split in 2028 was rubberstamped.<\/p>\n \u201cThe development is heading in a very positive direction,\u201d declared Tost.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are many overtaking manoeuvres, which are exactly what the spectators want to see, in my opinion. Whether the battery is full or empty is of no concern to most fans.\u201d<\/p>\n Next season, the internal combustion power will increase to around 20kW [25bhp] with the energy recovery system (ERS) reduced by 50kW [67bhp]. Maximum harvesting will increase by 25kW per lap, to reduce super-clipping with the fuel flow rate up to 5 per cent.<\/p>\n In 2028, fuel flow will increase by 13 per cent overall with the ICE up to 450kW overall [600bhp], while maximum harvesting power further increases by another 25kW per lap, with a 60-40 power split being achieved.<\/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