Verstappen Criticizes 2026 F1 Cars as 'Not Correct' After Melbourne Crash

Max Verstappen crashed out of qualifying in Melbourne and used the incident to launch a scathing critique of Formula 1's new 2026 cars, calling the fundamental formula "not correct." The four-time world champion will start from the back of the grid at the Australian Grand Prix, while his Red Bull team faces a significant performance gap to the front-running Mercedes.

Why it matters:

Verstappen's forceful criticism, coming from the sport's dominant champion, adds immense pressure on the FIA and F1 to address perceived flaws in the new technical regulations. His comments highlight a potential disconnect between the rulemakers' vision and the drivers' experience, threatening the competitive integrity and spectacle of the sport if the cars are fundamentally unenjoyable or unpredictable to drive.

The details:

• Verstappen's qualifying session ended abruptly in Q1 when the rear axle of his Red Bull unexpectedly locked under braking for Turn 1, sending him spinning into the barriers.
• He expressed extreme frustration with the 2026 cars, stating, "I'm definitely not having fun at all with these cars" and that the driving experience is "very weird."
• The Dutchman was also angered by the leak of a private drivers' briefing, where he had previously voiced his concerns, calling the breach "not very professional."
• On the technical flaws, Verstappen dismissed proposed mid-season tweaks to energy deployment rules as insufficient, arguing they would only make the cars slower without fixing the core problem. "The formula is just not correct. And that is something that is a bit harder to change. But I think we need to," he said.
• Following the heavy impact, Verstappen underwent precautionary X-rays on his hands, which confirmed no fractures.
• He underscored the scale of Red Bull's current deficit, noting an eight-tenths gap to pole position and the need to improve both car and engine to fight Mercedes.

What's next:

Verstappen faces a recovery drive from the back of the grid in Melbourne, but his larger battle is with the new era of regulations. He warned that the 2026 season "is going to be a long season" as teams grapple with the new cars. His public condemnation will likely fuel ongoing discussions between teams, the FIA, and Liberty Media about potential regulatory adjustments, though major changes to the core "formula" he criticized remain a complex challenge.