Despite his undisputed dominance, Max Verstappen won't miss the current Formula 1 cars. On the cusp of the 2026 technical revolution, the world champion delivers a scathing indictment of a Formula 1 he considers physically demanding and disappointing from a sporting perspective.
Undisputed king of modern Formula 1, Max Verstappen He surprises with the frankness of his speech. While already looking ahead to the 2026 season and its new regulations, the Dutchman does not hide his relief at the prospect of seeing the disappearance of the ground-effect cars introduced in 2022.
An acknowledged paradox: these single-seaters allowed him to crush the competition, but they also left lasting marks on his body.
Max Verstappen: The voice of a champion, and a whistleblower
Max Verstappen directly challenges the philosophy that guided the current regulations, which were introduced at the time by Ross BrawnThe objective was clear: to allow drivers to follow each other more closely and to encourage overtaking.
In reality, the situation is dire.
“At first, following others was enjoyable, but over time it became less so.” ", Explain
VerstappenAccording to him, the positive effects observed during the first seasons faded as teams pushed aerodynamic development to the extreme.
The four-time world champion points to a fundamental problem: the inability of current single-seaters to truly promote on-track battles.
« The aerodynamic load is lower, the wake isn't what it used to be. It's not enough to overtake " he concludes.
Verstappen He even compares these cars unfavorably to previous generations. While he acknowledges that the F1 Pre-2022 models suffered from marked understeer and oversteer, he believes the current generation has not lived up to its promises in terms of wheel-to-wheel racing.
Beyond the sporting aspect, it is above all the human cost that worries the driver. Red BullThe discourse is becoming almost alarming.
“My back is deteriorating, and my feet still hurt.” " he confides, without hesitation.
Verstappen don't hesitate to compare the Formula 1 to motocross, a discipline already renowned for being extreme. A revealing parallel: according to him, top-level motorsport now inflicts unprecedented physical constraints, sometimes greater than those of disciplines considered more brutal.
As we approach the major technological revolution of 2026, the remarks of Verstappen These words resonate as a warning to the governing bodies. The champion speaks not only for himself, but for a generation of riders subjected to ever faster, stiffer, and more demanding machines.
The era of ground-effect cars seems to be coming to an end, without nostalgia for the one who nevertheless dominated it like no other.
Max Verstappen is no longer just the driver to beat. He is now establishing himself as a critical voice within the paddock, calling for a Formula 1 more spectacular, but also more respectful of the bodies of its main actors.
The message is clear: winning is no longer enough if the price to pay is too high. It remains to be seen whether the Formula 1 will know how to heed the call of its champion before discomfort becomes the norm.
