Max Verstappen has delivered a scathing review of the new 2026 F1 rules, claiming it would even be better to "drive in Formula E", such are the energy management demands on drivers.
For F1's new engines, the power output is split 50-50 between the internal combustion engine and beefed-up electrical systems, with the batteries now producing 350kw of power, up from 120kw in 2025.
Drivers must manage their energy and state of charge to a greater extent given the increased dependence on power delivery from the batteries, with some believing that lift and coast during qualifying laps could be necessary to ensure a full depletion of energy is not reached, in which case the car would revert to ICE power only.
Verstappen, who was not in the Red Bull on Thursday as Isack Hadjar took driving over driving duties, took aim at the new regulations, and branded F1 as being "Formula E on steroids."
"Yeah, to drive, it is not a lot of fun, and to be honest, I would say the right word is management," Verstappen told media, including RacingNews365.
"But on the other hand, I also know how much work has been going on in the background from the engine side, so it is not the nicest thing to say, but I also want to be realistic, as for 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 not my problem because I'm all for that and equal chances, but as a pure driver, I enjoy driving flat out, and at the moment, you cannot drive like that.
"There is a lot going on, a lot of what you do as a driver, in terms of inputs, which have a massive effect on the energy, and for me, that's just not Formula 1, and maybe it would be better to drive in Formula E, right, because that's all about energy efficiency and management and that's what they stand for.
"So driving-wise, it is 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 people, of course, when I sit in the car, I will always give it my best. They know that, but the excitement levels are not so high.
"The livery looks great, the car looks great, the proportion of the car looks good, that is not the problem.
"It is just that everything else for me is a bit anti-racing, and probably people will 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 didn't write the regulations, and if it was up to non-political aspects of making regulations, the car would have looked very different, but that is how it is."
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