The 2026 F1 season hasn’t seen Max Verstappen battling rivals wheel-to-wheel like in previous years. Instead, he’s reserving his ruthlessness for critiquing the new regulations. From 2026, F1 engines must have a 50/50 power splitbetween the internal combustion engine and a new, more powerful 350 kW electric motor.

Like any regulation change, there are pros and cons as the sport evolves. The fanbase probably doesn’t even notice—or care too much—they just want to binge Netflix and watch their favourite drivers. On-track action feels secondary these days.

The new rules have sparked mixed reactions among drivers. Some say they’re fine, others say they’re “kind of okay.” Verstappen, however, has been scathing, likening the new engines to Mario Kart, with the battery delivering a temporary speed boost for only a few seconds per lap.

This means drivers must manage battery consumption each lap, slowing down during the battery recuperation phases. It’s this style of strategic, battery-conscious driving that particularly irritates Verstappen—because, in his view, 2026 isn’t proper F1.

Verstappen has called the new rules a “joke” and “not fun at all.” In a recent interview, he didn’t hold back, unloading on the regulations and their impact on the racing spectacle:

“I think I speak for most of the drivers. Some of course will say it’s great because they are winning races, which is fair enough. When you have an advantage, why would you give that up, right, because you never know if you’re going to have a good car again.”

“But if you just speak to most of the drivers, it’s not what we like. I don’t think it’s what the real F1 fans like. Maybe some fans like it, but they don’t understand racing. Hopefully we can get rid of this as soon as possible.”

“I hope they don’t think like that, because it will eventually ruin the sport,It will come and bite them back in the ass.”

“But it’s also going to be very difficult with everyone to agree. Not everyone needs to agree, but most of the people have to agree to make changes.”

“But like I said, it’s political, right. Some people feel they have the advantage now, and they want to, of course, use that. Rightly so. I get that.”

“But at the same time, if you look at it for the sport, it’s just not good. They should have listened already in ’23 to already see this coming. Unfortunately, a little bit, maybe it’s a lesson for the future, that this would never happen again. That would be great.”