Max Verstappen delivers a strong warning over Formula 1's 2026 regulations, calling the new cars anti-racing and describing little enjoyment from driving
them, despite accepting that every team and driver will face the same technical framework when the season starts.
The Dutch driver has already sampled Red Bull's 2026-spec machine and power unit during early running in Barcelona and Bahrain, gaining first-hand experience of how the new rules feel on track while preparing for another title challenge after finishing second to Lando Norris in the 2025 standings.
The 2026 Formula 1 regulations bring a full reset of technical concepts, covering chassis layout, power unit design and aerodynamics, with rule makers pushing for a near equal balance between combustion output and electric deployment, which means drivers must constantly manage energy while also attacking for lap time during each stint.
Under the Formula 1 2026 regulations, energy management becomes central to performance, with drivers required to recharge batteries under braking zones and while cornering, so every throttle, brake and steering input now has a direct impact on how much hybrid power remains available on straights and during wheel-to-wheel battles.
Verstappen explains that this dependence on battery recovery alters how Formula 1 feels from the cockpit, shifting focus away from pure speed towards efficiency targets and setting up stints around charge levels, which the Red Bull driver believes reduces the raw thrill that defined earlier generations of grand prix cars.
"[They're] not a lot of fun, to be honest. I would say the right word is management," the four-time world champion told reporters. "As a driver, the feeling is 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. That's also not my problem, because I'm all for that. Equal chances;I don't mind that. But as a pure driver, I enjoy driving flat out. At the moment, you cannot drive like that. "
Verstappen stresses how sensitive the new systems are to inputs on the steering wheel and pedals, and argues that this technical behaviour clashes with the sport's traditional identity, as energy mapping often takes priority over instinctive driving during a lap.
"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 better to drive Formula E, right? Because that's all about energy efficiency and management. That's what they stand for. "
Visual impact, Formula 1 2026 regulations and Verstappen’s stance
While unhappy with how the Formula 1 2026 regulations shape the driving experience, Verstappen does praise Red Bull's new look and proportions, separating the visual design from the technical direction chosen by the rule makers, and making clear that appearance is not the core issue.
"Driving-wise, it's 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 the people. Of course, when I sit in the car, I will always give it my very best. They know that. But the excitement level is not so high. "
"I mean, I like the livery, the livery is great," he said. "The car looks great. 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. "
Verstappen accepts that his verdict on the Formula 1 2026 regulations might not be popular in the paddock, yet insists that drivers should be free to speak openly about the machinery, especially when they feel the technical process has been influenced by politics as well as engineering aims.
"People will probably 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 the car, probably the engine, whatever, would have looked very different. But yeah, that's how it is. "
Keanu & Max #F1 #F1Testing pic.twitter.com/L0VR43sHm2Formula 1 (@F1) February 12, 2026
Wider paddock view on Formula 1 2026 regulations
Concerns over the Formula 1 2026 regulations are not limited to Red Bull, as Lewis Hamilton also voices doubts about the rule set earlier in the week, questioning how complex the framework has become for teams and drivers handling strategy and car operation.
Hamilton describes the new regulations as "ridiculously complex", which underlines a broader unease among leading drivers about the direction of Formula 1, even as teams invest heavily in new engines and chassis in Europe and the Middle East ahead of the first race under the updated rules.
As preparations continue in Barcelona, Bahrain and beyond for the introduction of the Formula 1 2026 regulations, Verstappen and Hamilton's comments highlight a clear split between technical objectives such as efficiency and equalisation, and the on-track feel that many drivers associate with traditional grand prix racing.
