Helmut Marko appeals to FIA amid serious Max Verstappen doubts

Helmut Marko has urged the FIA to make urgent changes to F1's current regulations, calling for a reduced reliance on hybrid systems and a renewed focus on the internal combustion engine.

His remarks come amid growing concern from Max Verstappen, who is now openly questioning his Formula 1 future, such is the extent to which he dislikes the new rules.

The Dutchman's frustration is centred on the increased reliance on electrical energy deployment, with the 28-year-old making it clear he is not enjoying driving the new cars, with the balance between battery and engine performance leaving him dissatisfied behind the wheel.

Compounding that displeasure is the difficulty of the Milton Keynes-based squad's current package, but the four-time F1 world champion insists it would not be a critical factor if he were having more fun racing the latest Red Bull.

The RB22 has proven a challenging car to extract consistent performance from, particularly on the chassis side, further adding to Verstappen's unhappiness.

Three rounds into the campaign, he has yet to finish in the top five and sits ninth in the drivers' standings.

The 71-time grand prix winner recently indicated he will take time in the coming weeks to reflect on whether continuing in Formula 1 remains worthwhile, particularly given the personal sacrifices required, including long periods away from home and family.

Marko, who left Red Bull at the end of last year, has echoed those concerns, stressing that Verstappen's criticism is not simply a reaction to the team's current struggles, but rather a broader issue with the direction of the sport.

"On the chassis side, the deficit is quite large," the Austrian told Kleine Zeitung. "But Red Bull has a tradition of turning things like that around. It’s just all too complicated, and the software plays an overly dominant role."

Calling on the FIA

The 82-year-old's primary concern lies with the increasing complexity of the hybrid power units, where energy recovery systems and battery deployment have become decisive factors in performance.

"Whether you can correct that within a single season, I don’t know," Marko continued. "Something has to be done, and the driving aspect needs to come back to the forefront.

"The mood among the drivers is negative. Adjustments need to be made now, and hopefully, the FIA will do everything it can to reduce the role of the battery and place more emphasis on the combustion engine."

Marko believes restoring a greater focus on the internal combustion engine would not only improve the racing spectacle but also return more control to the drivers, rather than software and energy management systems dictating outcomes.

He concluded by pointing to an unexpected silver lining to the current situation, adding: "In that respect, the two cancelled races are not such a bad thing."