First podium but same criticisms
The first podium of 2026 and the beautiful vintage-flavored battle that saw him opposed – albeit defeated – to Lewis Hamilton did not change Max Verstappen’s opinion about this Formula 1. The regulations introduced this season continue to be disliked by the four-time world champion who also during the post-Canada GP press conference did not fail to point out his little appreciation for this type of cars and power units. The drivers who race in Formula 1 are capable of putting on a show in any case and with any means – this was Verstappen’s summary – but this is not real F1.
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It’s not a matter of spectacle
“This season I have driven different types of cars – Verstappen explained in the press conference, obviously referring to his experience in GT races – and especially last week [at Nurburgring], I realized how pure motorsport can be and how beautiful races can be. Here in Formula 1 most of the drivers are among the best in the world, so we would give you a great show and race each other very hard and well even if we were given a rental car. So this aspect has nothing to do with the rules.”
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The criticism of the #3 Dutchman is therefore all about the ‘driveability’ of these single-seaters and the excessive complexity they present: “For me, while driving, everything is a bit confusing – Verstappen explained to journalists – this is not what Formula 1 should be. Everything is too complex. Regarding most of the rules, fans don’t even know what we are dealing with while driving, what is allowed when you are behind or when you are in front of another car, what we have to do in a formation lap or what we have to do in an out lap, or how much battery we are allowed to charge. It’s a real shame that we have to deal with all these things. In my opinion, F1 simply has to be purer and I really hope that what they are trying to do for next year goes through because I think it is necessary, the bare minimum, to make it a bit more natural and a bit closer to normality, or at least a bit purer from a racing point of view. But as I said, as drivers, give us any kind of car and we will always race and always put on a great show.”
