Liam Lawson launches key F1 defence after fierce Max Verstappen criticism

Liam Lawson has defended the vastly different feeling in 2026-spec F1 cars after Max Verstappen's broadside attack.

The Red Bull driver branded the new energy management-dominated formula as "anti-racing" and as like "Formula E on steroids" during pre-season testing, such was his dissatisfaction with the new power units, which generate power through a 50-50 split between the internal combustion engine and the beefed-up batteries.

In 2025, this ratio was 80-20 in favour of the ICE, but with the regulations, including the new chassis rules, still immature, Lawson believes teams need a chance to get stuck into the new regulations and develop them. 

"It is more difficult, definitely, to get off the line than last year," Lawson observed to media, including RacingNews365. 

"It is something that I'm sure, as we progress through the season, we'll be figuring things out to help and comparing a five-year developed car versus a brand-new car, there are always going to be things which are new and different.

"I'm sure we will learn and get better, and the main thing is how we develop it and make it faster, because it is still in the early stages, but we want to be quicker, especially compared to some of the top teams. 

"It is about us getting used to it and developing the car and making it more suited to what us drivers are asking for, that will be a big part of it.

"You are a lot busier, but as we spend more time driving, it will start to become natural, but right now, the loss of downforce is making it a lot harder to drive."