Max Verstappen has voiced strong criticism of Formula 1’s current direction, stating that anyone enjoying the racing in the 2026 season “doesn’t know anything about racing.” The Red Bull Racing driver labeled the new regulations a “farce” following the Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday, March 15, 2026.
Verstappen first raised concerns in 2023 about potential flaws in the next generation of Formula 1 cars, and has been consistently critical of the new rules since pre-season testing.
The current regulations require cars to derive approximately 50% of their power from batteries, allowing drivers to gain a significant advantage by activating a button, but also resulting in a substantial power loss when the battery depletes.
The reigning champion was unable to finish the race in China, retiring while running in sixth position with approximately ten laps remaining.
“It’s just terrible,” Verstappen said. “If someone likes this, they don’t know anything about racing. It’s not enjoyable. It’s like playing Mario Kart.”
Verstappen had fallen to 12th place early in the race before climbing back up to sixth before his retirement.
Despite acknowledging that Red Bull Racing is currently struggling to match the pace of its rivals, Verstappen admitted he enjoys the challenge of racing through the field.
“Look at this race,” he added. “You secure a boost to overtake, but when you run out of battery, you get overtaken again. For me, it’s a farce.”
Verstappen also dismissed the excitement surrounding the battle at the front of the field between Mercedes and Ferrari, suggesting that drivers celebrating the new format are doing so because of their results and to protect their competitive advantage.
“It’s just Kimi and George winning, right? There’s no real change. They are miles ahead. Ferrari manages to get excellent starts, but then it settles down after a few laps. It has nothing to do with racing.
“I would say the same thing if I was winning races, because I care about motorsport. It’s not because of my results, because I am fighting more than ever.”
Formula 1 has emphasized the increased number of overtakes and lead changes following the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, urging fans to remain open-minded regarding the new regulations. Verstappen hopes that attracting new fans with more passing maneuvers isn’t the sole motivation behind the changes in F1.
“I hope they don’t think like that, because it will eventually destroy the sport. Not everyone has to agree, but the majority has to for there to be changes. But, as I said before, it’s political, isn’t it? Some people feel like they have an advantage and they want to benefit from it now, and I understand that. But for the sport, it’s simply not good…”
