Just days before the British Grand Prix, Max Verstappen offered a worrying assessment of the 2026 cars after his first tests on the Silverstone simulator. The four-time world champion believes the new regulations completely transform the British circuit, to the point of making it seem laughable.
Verstappen: "Honestly, it felt like I was on a different track."
Silverstone is one of the most popular circuits in Max Verstappen, but the Dutchman fears he will not find the same sensations with the future Formula 1 cars of 2026.
Already highly critical of the upcoming technical regulations, the driver Red Bull did not change his mind after completing several laps on the simulator.
"I love Silverstone, but after a few laps on the simulator, I started laughing."
According to VerstappenThe behavior of the new single-seaters is so different that he felt like he was driving on a completely different track.
"Honestly, I felt like I was on a different track."
A battery that quickly runs out of power
The main problem highlighted by the four-time world champion concerns the management of electrical energy, the importance of which has increased considerably since 2026. At Silverstone, where rapid sequences dominate, he believes that the possibilities of recovering energy will be limited.
"The battery was barely charged after one lap. It was constantly flat." »
Verstappen explains that, unlike other circuits, long, fast curves offer few opportunities to efficiently recharge the hybrid system.
"There are long straight lines, closest "In fast corners, you can hardly recharge the battery. Then, on the following straight, you run out of energy."
For him, this characteristic is likely to profoundly change the way the British Grand Prix is approached.
"It will be very different from what we are used to." Silverstone. It's going to be difficult.
These criticisms are being confirmed.
The pilot Red Bull This is not his first outburst against future F1 cars. He had already described the 2026 cars as "anti-racing" and joked that he would rather play Mario Kart than spend time on the simulator.
His initial tests at Silverstone now seem to reinforce his concerns. verstappen, The new energy requirements could alter the DNA of one of the fastest and most spectacular circuits on the calendar.
