Four-time F1 Drivers' Champion Max Verstappen recently criticised the 2026 regulation changes, describing the new cars as being "Formula E on steroids" and going so far as to call the rules "anti-racing." It's a sentiment we soon learned was shared by fellow Champions, Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso.
Clearly unhappy after the first week of testing in Bahrain, the Ductman even seemed to hint that he would consider moving on from Formula 1 to pursue other racing endeavours. After all, he's made no secret of the fact that winning his first title was the culmination of everything he had hoped to achieve in the sport; anything beyond that was a bonus.
Verstappen still has three years remaining on his Red Bull contract, and has now clarified where things stand with his F1 career. Asked if he will stick around after 2026, he replied, "Then everything must turn out to be very negative, but there is no question of that. I will just continue."
"If I don't like something, it doesn't mean I don't want to do it," Verstappen continued. "As a purist, as a motorsport enthusiast, I would have preferred it to be different. But I also know I have to make do with this. I can't adjust it now. That's why I always try to get the most out of it."
"I also find it super fun to work with everyone and with our own car. Those are all nice things. Would I have preferred it to be different, in terms of regulations? Yes, I do," he admitted. "I also know that this is it, so you have to make do with that."
Pushed to elaborate on the comparison he made between Formula 1 and the fully electric Formula E (the regulation changes have made this year's cars 50/50 in terms of combustion engines and electrics), Verstappen was quizzed on whether he believes it could now become an F1 feeder series.
"Well, let's hope not," he replied. "I mean, not about the drivers, because there are a lot of good drivers that would be able to perform also really well here. But I don't want us to be close to Formula E."
"I want us to actually stay away from that and be Formula 1. So don't increase the battery. Actually, get rid of that and focus on a nice engine and have Formula E as Formula E, because that's what they are about."
"I'm sure that with the new car [Gen4] from what I've seen and talked to some of my friends in there, that's going to be also a really cool car," Verstappen added. "But let them be Formula E, and we should stay Formula 1, and let's try not to mix that."
As for whether there's been any pushback to his comments, the Red Bull driver pointed out, "I'm just sharing my opinion. We live in a free world, free speech, and yeah, that's what I felt. Not everyone needs to feel like that, but that's how I felt, and it also doesn't matter, of course, what other people have to say about that. It's just I got a question, and I shared my opinion. I think that I'm allowed to do [that]. So it's not about receiving pushback or whatever."
Verstappen didn't drive during today's test runs in Bahrain, leaving Mercedes driver George Russell to top the time sheets: