- Max Verstappen comments on regulations changes at Miami GP
- Reb Bull driver welcomes changes but wants more
- Drops another hint of future amid retirement talks
Max Verstappen has been (very) vocal about his dislike of the 2026 F1 cars since testing began, even labelling them ‘Formula E cars on steroids’.
He has not been driving the car well this year, and given the slow starts of the Red Bull cars and sarcastic waving at Pierre Gasly in Japan, it is not a surprise that the Dutchman has been linked with retirement at the end of the year.
With the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian GPs cancelled in April, all teams had an unexpected break to work on their cars ahead of this weekend’s Miami GP. The FIA have also acted by making regulatory changes, including increasing the superclipping power from 100kW to 350kW, allowing drivers to charge the battery in half the time it took in the opening races.
There is one significant change to the qualifiers, with the energy charge per lap reduced to 7 MJ, limiting the energy the cars store during the hop laps.
Max Verstappen not happy despite positive talks with FIA
Verstappen spoke to the media ahead of the Miami GP, revealing that the drivers had met with F1 and the FIA. He said that the break helped them convince the decision-makers that more input from the drivers is needed before regulation changes, and said:
“I mean, the positive thing is that we had some nice meetings with Formula 1 and the FIA, and I think it is a starting point, hopefully for the future. In a few years’ time, maybe I’m not here anymore, and I really hope that for the future drivers as well, there is more input to come from the drivers to the organisers in general.”
The four-time World Champion insisted that the end goal is always to make the sport exciting for the fans and the drivers, and said:
“Because I do think that most of the drivers here, we have a good understanding and a good feel of what is needed to make Formula 1 a good product, a fun product.
However, Verstappen said the positive step was only in the communications department, not in the regulations. He still needs a lot of changes to the 2026 rules and hopes they take that step soon.
“I think there’s already been a huge step forward in terms of the communication, and with the changes that have been made, I think it is more of a tickle because Formula 1 is a very complex and political sport, but I think everyone has tried their best to at least do something, but of course, it won’t change the world.”
Verstappen drops another future hint
Verstappen joked earlier this year that the best solution to the regulations right now was to take away the simulator and use a Nintendo Switch, since it was better to practice Mario Kart. He also hinted that he was considering his future in the sport following the regulation changes, but he has made another comment this week.
In his interaction with the media, the Red Bull driver said the changes this week are minor. He was hoping for bigger changes next year, hinting that he was not walking away at the end of the season and said:
“It is a tickle, and it is not what we need yet to make it really flat-out, but as I said, it is complicated to get everyone to agree, and I just hope for next year, we can make really big, big changes.”
The inaugural Miami GP winner will be looking to avoid a repeat of last year’s mistake, where he was given a 10-second penalty in the Sprint following the collision with Kimi Antonelli in the pit lane.
