Verstappen Leads Driver Criticism of 'Formula E on Steroids' F1 Cars
Max Verstappen has launched a fierce critique of F1's 2026 cars, labeling them "Formula E on steroids" and warning the driving experience could shorten his career. His complaints about excessive energy management, echoed by other drivers, highlight a growing tension between technical complexity and the sport's core appeal of driver skill and sensation.
Max Verstappen has delivered a scathing verdict on Formula 1's new-generation cars, calling them "Formula E on steroids" and threatening that the driving experience could accelerate his retirement from the sport. His public criticism, echoed privately by many peers, centers on cars that prioritize complex energy management over raw driver skill and feel.
Why it matters:
Verstappen is F1's reigning superstar and biggest draw. His vocal dissatisfaction with the sport's technical direction poses a significant credibility challenge for the FIA and Formula One Management (FOM). If the champion feels the essence of F1 is being eroded, it risks alienating the core fanbase and could influence the career decisions of other top drivers, impacting the sport's long-term appeal.
The details:
- Public Condemnation: In a blunt interview, Verstappen stated the 2026 car's feeling is "not very F1-like," a sentiment Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez publicly agreed with, noting the resemblance to Formula E.
- Simulator Avoidance: Verstappen revealed he avoided testing the 2026 car in the simulator last year after quickly realizing it was "terrible," choosing to spend more time in the 2025 model instead.
- The Core Complaint: Drivers universally criticize the increased focus on managing the hybrid power unit's electrical energy. Races are becoming algorithmic, forcing drivers to deliberately slow in corners to harvest energy for straights, trading tenths of a second strategically rather than driving flat-out.
- Widespread Frustration: Lewis Hamilton has also criticized the 2026 regulations as "ridiculously complex,\