Max Verstappen has highlighted Liam Lawson's rapid adaptability to the Red Bull challenger as further criticism of the current F1 regulations.
Lawson was called up to stand in for Isack Hadjar at the Dutch Grand Prix last month and retained the seat at Monza and Madrid as the Frenchman heals an injured wrist.
Yuki Tsunoda was called back to the sport to replace Lawson at Racing Bulls, and ended the Italian Grand Prix inside the points.
Verstappen has long voiced his concerns with the new-for-2026 cars and how unnatural the drivers are having to approach them to extract performance.
Reiterating his stance to BBC Sport, Verstappen said: "In the history of the sport, normally the driver that is the most committed, the latest on the brakes, earlier on throttle, committing in the high speed, they get rewarded, because you just gain that time in the corner.
"But now you're constantly thinking about, 'In this corner I might have to hold in a bit. Go later on throttle. Or brake earlier. Or lift off. And then I have more top speed.'
“Stuff like that. It's so unnatural. It's so not how it should be.”
Many drivers have noted on occasion this year that they do not feel completely in control when it comes to extracting speed, with the battery doing a lot of the work on the straights.
Verstappen pointed to how quickly Lawson and Tsunoda got up to speed in their new cars as a clear example of a shortcoming with the current challengers.
"No disrespect, I hope no-one picks up on this, but look at Yuki [Tsunoda]," he said. "He jumps in the [Racing Bulls] car [at the Dutch Grand Prix]. Never driven the car before. Immediately competitive.
"Liam [Lawson] jumps from the Racing Bulls to the Red Bull - immediately competitive. It's because these cars are numb to your driver inputs.
"Of course, yes, you still have to do a good lap. And you still have to commit.
“The fastest drivers will always come out on top. But it's really, really limited, like a choke hold or something. You're held back."
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