Max Verstappen sharply criticizes Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson with strong words about the F1 rules disagreement.
Max Verstappen feels that the current Formula 1 car rules have made it harder for drivers to truly show their skills and win races. The four-time world champ has had a tough season so far, with only five podiums and sitting sixth in the championship, with 10 races to go.
Verstappen points out that a big problem is the hybrid engines, which need batteries to recharge during the race. This forces drivers to manage their energy carefully instead of pushing full throttle all the time. While these rules seem to make the field more competitive, Verstappen thinks they have hurt the top level of racing.
He’d love to see F1 go back to using V8 engines in future seasons, as he believes they make driving more exciting and keep the sport true to itself. Verstappen says the current engines take away from the driving experience and let less experienced drivers compete more than they should.
Without meaning to offend, Verstappen mentioned that Racing Bulls’ Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson have benefited from these rule changes. He explained, “Usually, the most committed driver — who brakes last, hits the throttle early, and takes corners fast — wins. But now, you’re always thinking about managing energy, braking earlier, or lifting off the throttle to save battery. It feels unnatural.”
He went on, “Look at Yuki, who jumped into the Racing Bulls car at the Dutch GP without any prior experience and was immediately competitive. Same with Liam moving to Red Bull – instantly competitive. The cars don’t respond as much to the driver’s input now. Of course, you still need skill, but it feels like you’re being held back.”
F1 plans to use more electric power in the future, raising the electric share of the engines to 60-40 by 2028. But Verstappen worries this could make the sport less exciting. He insists the engines should return to V8s!
He added, “Driving old V8 cars shows you how much better they respond and how much more fun they are compared to today’s cars, which feel heavy and slow on the throttle. Even last year’s turbo-hybrids don’t come close. V8 engines are lighter, freer, and just better to drive. We should limit battery use, maybe only for short boosts like push-to-pass. It shouldn’t be part of normal engine performance.”
Verstappen’s views highlight a debate about how to keep F1 thrilling while adapting to cleaner technology. Fans will be interested to see what the future holds!