Source:REUTERS/ANDY WONG
[Saba Sports News] After the opening race of the 2026 season, four-time champion Max Verstappen once again launched a fierce criticism of the new generation of cars. However, team principal Laurent Mekies stated that concerns about Verstappen potentially losing his competitive drive were unfounded. Before the new season began in Melbourne, Verstappen had already expressed his dissatisfaction with the 2026 regulations. According to the new technical framework, the car’s power is split roughly 50% between electric and internal combustion engines, but this four-time F1 world champion believes that this design undermines the racing aspect of the competition. During the race weekend in Australia, he maintained this viewpoint, admitting that driving these cars is not enjoyable.
Arriving at the Chinese Grand Prix, Verstappen continued to complain about the difficulty of driving the new car in interviews. He stated that he openly expresses his opinions because he cares deeply about the sport’s development. He hopes to find some improvements this season to make the racing experience more interesting.
The editor believes that Verstappen’s complaints primarily focus on two aspects: the deterioration of the driving experience and the deviation of the regulations from the essence of competitive racing. His criticisms are not merely nitpicking; they represent a portion of drivers’ deep concerns regarding F1’s excessive electrification and the sacrifice of the driving experience.