Verstappen’s verdict on F1’s racing guidelines: ‘I’d shred them!’

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Max Verstappen has never been shy about offering an opinion, but on the eve of the Las Vegas Grand Prix, the four-time world champion delivered a fresh dose of blunt honesty – this time aimed squarely at Formula 1’s ever-expanding racing guidelines.

And in classic Verstappen style, he didn’t so much tiptoe around the subject as he did rev the throttle through it.

With Oscar Piastri’s Brazil penalty still sparking debate, with GPDA director Carlos Sainz insisting the stewards’ call against the McLaren driver was “unacceptable”, the regulatory microscope has been firmly fixed on the FIA.

Verstappen, asked about the current state of racing rules, didn’t sugarcoat it: “I don’t always like the rules we have, but I simply follow them as they’re written.”

Pressed further on whether Formula 1 has become too complicated, he delivered the verbal equivalent of a raised eyebrow.

“You could say that, yes. The problem is that the more rules you create, the harder you make it for yourself.”

He wasn’t done. With a fighter-pilot clarity, he broke down the dilemma stewards face.

“In the end, that’s not even about the stewards, because they just follow the rulebook. You see something with your own eyes, you form an opinion, but when you look at the rules, it might be different again.

“So, what do you apply? The stewards are in a difficult position. I experienced that myself during my great day in Marrakesh. The stewards were super nice, but in the end, they’re bound to that rule book.

“It sometimes makes it really difficult to make the right decision.”

A Lighthearted Fix? Bring a Shredder

Talk eventually turned to the drivers’ ongoing efforts to propose a simplified set of guidelines.

Verstappen made it clear he’s perfectly happy to let others take the lead: “I think Carlos and George [Russell] already have everything prepared for that one, so I’ll just sit back and relax.”

And then came the punchline – pure Verstappen: “I’d just…” He paused, before mimicking the unmistakable motion of feeding documents into a shredder.

For a sport forever wrestling with the balance between clarity and complexity, his message couldn’t have been clearer – or cheekier.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.