Formula E CEO Invites Verstappen to Jeddah After 'Formula E on Steroids' Jab

Formula E CEO Jeff Dodds has extended a playful invitation to Max Verstappen to attend this weekend's Jeddah E-Prix, responding to the Red Bull driver's criticism that the proposed 2026 F1 cars feel like "Formula E on steroids." The exchange highlights a growing debate about the direction of F1's technical regulations and the distinct identities of the two premier single-seater championships.

Why it matters:

Verstappen's vocal concerns about the 2026 F1 cars' heavy focus on energy management strike at the heart of a philosophical divide in motorsport. His comments, and Dodds' witty retort, frame a larger conversation about the balance between technological relevance, racing purity, and driver satisfaction as F1 integrates more electric power. This public back-and-forth also provides Formula E with a significant platform to showcase its own evolving, high-performance product to a broader audience.

The details:

• Verstappen criticized the 2026 F1 cars during testing in Bahrain, stating the increased emphasis on energy management made it feel less like traditional F1 and more akin to Formula E.
• Dodds responded by sending Verstappen a tongue-in-cheek message, inviting the reigning champion to experience Formula E firsthand in Jeddah, located just 1500km from Bahrain.
• The Formula E CEO framed Verstappen's reference as a positive for awareness, suggesting it could draw more eyes to the all-electric series' close, overtake-heavy racing.
• Dodds believes Verstappen would "love" driving Formula E's upcoming Gen4 car, citing its 800bhp power, permanent all-wheel drive, and acceleration from 0-100 km/h in 1.8 seconds.

What's next:

The core of Verstappen's critique—that F1's 2026 rules create a compromised driving experience by merging two technologies—contrasts with Formula E's singular focus on optimizing racing around electric power. While Verstappen is unlikely to take up the Jeddah invitation mid-testing, the discussion underscores the challenge F1 faces in evolving its power units for a sustainable future while retaining the visceral, raw driving characteristics its stars cherish. As Formula E prepares to debut its faster Gen4 car, the performance gap between the two championships may narrow, further fueling comparisons about the essence of top-level single-seater racing.