Max Verstappen names 'pure' demand as F1 rule change on knife edge

Max Verstappen has explained his demand for F1 to feature "more pure" racing as a critical rule change teeters on the edge of collapse.

Verstappen finished third in the Canadian GP for his first podium of the season for Red Bull, the week after he competed in a Mercedes GT3 at the Nurburgring 24 Hours, coming within three hours of winning before a driveshaft broke. 

The Dutchman has been fierce in his opposition to the current F1 power units, which feature the much-discussed 50:50 split in terms of power output between the internal combustion engine and the 350kw beefed-up battery systems. 

Minor tweaks were made for Miami to reduce the super-clipping and lift and coast that had led Verstappen to brand the rules in pre-season as "anti-racing" and like "Formula E on steroids", but for 2027, an agreement was made in principle before Miami for the power output ratio to be split 60:40, thus decreasing the reliance on the battery to produce power.

However, RacingNews365 understands that Audi and Ferrari have differing concerns over changing the rules so soon after heavy investment into the 50:50 split, a central pillar of the current regulations. 

Verstappen, powered by Red Bull's own in-house Red Bull Powertrains engine believes it is a "shame" drivers must now manage the complex systems, and wants to see a return to "pure racing."

He could get his wish with FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem recently confirming that F1 would return to V8 engines for the next engine regulatory cycle, potentially from 2030, with most PUMs seemingly in favour of this. 

"I mean, for me, even this season, of course, I’ve been racing also different kinds of cars and especially last week, that reminds me how pure motorsport can be and how great the racing can be," Verstappen told media, including RacingNews365.

"So, yeah, when I come back into Formula 1, the thing is of course, here, especially most of the drivers, we’re the best in the world, so even if you would give us a rental car, we’ll give you a good show, and we’ll race each other very hard and well. 

"So it has nothing to do in that sense with the rules. But for me, while driving, it’s all a bit confusing. It’s not what Formula 1 should be about. It’s way too complex, all of this. Most of the rules, the fans don’t even know what we are dealing with while driving, what is allowed when you’re behind or when you’re the car ahead, what we have to do on a formation lap or what we have to do in an out-lap, or how much battery we’re allowed to charge. 

"All these things are just such a shame that we have to deal with all, and, for me F1 just needs to be more pure and I really hope that what they try to do next year will go through because I think that is necessary, the minimum necessary, to make it a bit more natural and a bit more back to normal, or at least a bit more pure racing. 

"But like I said, as drivers, give us any kind of car, we’ll always race and give a good entertainment or a good show. Doesn’t matter, people say, 'Oh, but look now, the show is great, the cars were fighting,' but it has nothing to do with the car. It just needs to be more pure."