Max Verstappen has once again emphasized that he is not a fan of the new F1 regulations. The upcoming season is dominated by a new regulatory cycle, with more emphasis on electrification and battery management. After the first test week in Bahrain, Verstappen already dismissed the cars as ‘Formula E on steroids’. In a new podcast interview, he further explains his opinion.
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In Bahrain, Verstappen even called the new cars ‘unworthy of Formula 1’, precisely because managing the battery leads to slower lap times. Drivers must ensure they generate enough energy and will therefore have to consciously sacrifice pace at certain moments. In the Up to Speed podcast by Naomi Schiff and David Coulthard, among others, Verstappen explained why this threatens to become the ‘least fun F1 era’.
Everything revolves around management
“The car has less grip, but accelerates much faster out of the corner,” said the four-time world champion. “The whole layout is completely different. The tires are different, so the way you drive through the corner also changes. The grip no longer comes primarily from the floor, but is generated in other ways. As a result, you will probably slide more, while you have more power when exiting the corner. With less grip, that is of course difficult to control. In slow corners, you have to wait longer before you can get back on the gas.”
“It feels really different from recent years,” Verstappen sighed. “Previously, you got in and it immediately felt familiar. The car was usually a step forward compared to the year before. Now you really have to adjust your driving style and approach. I think this is my least favorite F1 era so far,” he admitted honestly. “The word ‘management’ will be mentioned often this season.”
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‘Do it for the Red Bull engineers’
Despite his criticism, Verstappen emphasizes that he wants to get the maximum out of his RB22, also because it is powered by its own power unit for the first time. “Ultimately, in a race, you always make the best of the situation; that applies to everyone,” he continued. “But some things are simply more fun than others, and for me, this is less fun. That doesn’t change the fact that I will do my utmost in the car. I owe that to the people who designed the car and engine. It’s incredible what they have built from scratch.”
“So far we haven’t seen any problems,” he said about the new Red Bull powertrain. “Whether it’s fast enough? No idea. That remains to be seen.” Verstappen emphasized that he wants to fully commit to the engineers who – in collaboration with Ford – worked on the new platform. “It’s fantastic to work with such talented people. And of course, I’m going to do my best for that,” he emphasized again. “But yeah, for me it’s just less fun; it’s no longer pure Formula 1.”
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