Max Verstappen has warned that Formula 1’s new hybrid power regulations are fundamentally flawed, describing them as “anti-racing” and comparing the experience to “Formula E on steroids.”
The four-time world champion believes meaningful fixes are no longer feasible ahead of Sunday’s season-opening Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park.
“Yeah, we’re a bit late with that, right?” Verstappen said. “The amount of money that has been invested as well into these regulations, they will be around for a while.”
The Dutchman argued these issues were foreseeable when the rules were first unveiled in 2022.
“So, you could have seen this coming. Suddenly now things are raised, it’s a bit late.”
The new regulations require cars to draw half their power from sustainable fuels and half from electric systems, creating a complex balancing act for drivers.
At certain circuits, including Melbourne, limited heavy braking zones mean drivers cannot adequately charge their batteries through conventional means.
Max Verstappen fears the quality of racing could be hampered ahead of the Australian Grand Prix
|GETTY
Instead, they must harvest energy during high-speed corners or at the end of straights, sections where they would typically maintain full throttle.
This strategic sacrifice of pace at specific track sections allows drivers to accumulate sufficient charge for extended electrical deployment on straights, ultimately reducing overall lap times.
Albert Park joins Jeddah, the Red Bull Ring and Monza as venues identified as particularly problematic for energy management under the revised rulebook.
F1 facts fans might not know | GETTY/GBNEWSLewis Hamilton acknowledged that the differences between circuits will be stark, suggesting Sunday’s race may not accurately represent how the season will unfold.
“Some tracks you don’t have to do lift and coast for a single lap, and in some places you have to do a lot of lift and coast for a qualifying lap,” the seven-time champion explained.
“There can be a big difference between deployment, of a second.”
Hamilton highlighted how minor decisions at specific corners can dramatically affect performance throughout an entire lap.
The Ferrari driver also emphasised the need for better communication with spectators about these technical complexities.
“I just hope that Formula 1 is able to project that to the fans so they can understand what’s going on, because inside it’s a lot to fully understand it,” he said.
Max Verstappen is looking to win the F1 title for the fifth time this season
| REUTERSCarlos Sainz urged caution before implementing any hasty rule modifications, advocating for a measured assessment across the opening rounds of the championship.
“It could go both ways, that’s why evaluating and trying to predict how it will be on TV before it even happens is not worth it,” the Williams driver said.
“Let’s see, whatever rules we’ve come up with for this year, let’s put them on track and then evaluate.”
Sainz revealed he has spoken directly with F1 chief Stefano Domenicali and the FIA about maintaining flexibility during the early races.
“Give it maybe two or three examples, and then if clearly there’s something off, something wrong, I hope we are able to change.”