Max Verstappen dislikes the new F1 regulations.

F1 Unveils New Regulations Focused on Racing Excitement

Formula 1 has rolled out its most extensive technical regulations aimed at enhancing the excitement of racing.

However, one of the sport’s prominent figures isn’t quite on board with these changes — at least not yet.

Max Verstappen, a four-time champions, spoke with the media on Thursday in Bahrain during the second round of pre-season testing. He shared his views on the new generation of cars, labeling the regulations as “anti-racing” and saying the vehicles resemble “Formula E on steroids.”

“To drive, it’s honestly not very enjoyable,” he remarked. “I think ‘management’ might be the right term. It doesn’t feel very F1-like. It’s a bit like Formula E on steroids. But since the rules apply to everyone, we just have to deal with it.”

With the new regulations, the cars for this season will feature almost an equal split between battery power and internal combustion engines (ICE). Verstappen feels that this has led to cars that can’t really be driven ‘flat out.’

“As a driver, I love going flat out, but right now, I can’t do that. There’s so much to manage. What a driver does has a major effect on energy consumption. For me, it’s just not F1. Maybe I should be driving in Formula E instead, since it’s all about energy, efficiency, and management,” he explained.

“We’re running low on energy. I just want to drive normally, without constantly thinking, ‘Should I brake a bit longer or shift gears?’ Those decisions really affect performance on the straights. Plus, with this tire and car configuration, the grip is rather low at the moment. It feels like a big step back from where we were previously.”

Verstappen isn’t alone in his sentiments. Fellow driver Lewis Hamilton also highlighted how much “lift and coast” is required in this new generation of cars to manage battery power.

“For example, at Barcelona, they do about 600 meters of lift and coast during qualifying laps. That’s not the essence of racing. Here in Bahrain, with all the braking zones, it’s somewhat different,” Hamilton noted.

“I find myself having to shift into low gear just to recoup enough battery power,” the seven-time champion added.

“We can’t restore enough battery juice, so we often have to rev the engine really high. In some places, we might even drop to second or first gear just to regain that extra power.”

Returning to Verstappen, the Red Bull driver mentioned that the regulations would likely have been quite different had he been involved in crafting them.

“Honestly, I think the car’s proportions look good. That’s not the issue. It’s just that everything else feels a bit anti-racing to me,” Verstappen continued. “People might not appreciate my honesty, but I think it’s important to express my thoughts on my race car. It’s just how I feel.”