FIA chief Nikolas Tombazis has responded to the critical remarks from Max Verstappen. During the test days in Bahrain, the Dutchman called the new 2026 cars ‘unworthy of Formula 1’, and even compared driving them to the Formula E racing class. Although he is cautious in his statements, Tombazis says that any adjustments from the FIA are possible: ‘We are open to that’.
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The first test kilometers have been driven in the 2026 cars, but not all drivers were pleased with the new cars. Max Verstappen even labeled driving the cars as ‘Formula E on steroids’, while Charles Leclerc and Fernando Alonso were also not fans. However, the FIA is open to implementing any small regulatory changes for energy management.
Nikolas Tombazis – technical director at the FIA – was presented with Verstappen’s statements. “Well, I think we must always remember that there are many stakeholders involved in this sport,” Tombazis told the media in Bahrain. “The drivers are obviously extremely important in that. They are the stars, but we must also not forget that this sport attracts major car manufacturers such as Mercedes, Audi, Ferrari and Cadillac.”
‘Open to adjustments’
According to Tombazis, criticism of the new cars has certainly decreased compared to earlier in 2025, when the teams could only test the 2026 cars on simulators. “I think the reactions in Barcelona and Bahrain are certainly much better than the earlier feedback from the people in the simulator, but there are also reactions like Max’s,” the top official refers to the world champion. “I think there are a number of ways we as a sport can act to adjust the rules. It is clear that this must then also receive approval through the governance process – we cannot just say tomorrow ‘we are changing this and that’, there is a process.”
The FIA is open to small adjustments. “We have done a huge amount of work to determine how the electrical energy is deployed, and I think in my opinion we have done 90% of the work to reach a reasonable result,” Tombazis continues. “Some adjustments may still be needed now that we have learned more about the cars, and we are fully open to that.”
View the 2026 F1 calendar here
