Max Verstappen has never been one to sugar-coat his feelings, but in the sweltering Bahrain desert on Thursday evening, the reigning world champion turned the thermostat all the way up.
After his first serious taste of Red Bull’s 2026 challenger, the Dutchman didn’t just raise an eyebrow – he practically lit the new-era Formula 1 rulebook on fire.
The headline verdict? Brutal. Blunt. Unfiltered.
‘Not Very Formula 1-Like’
A day after grinding around Sakhir for 136 laps on the opening day of testing, Verstappen stepped into the press room with the composure of a man who had done his homework – and the frustration of one who didn’t like the results.
While Red Bull’s lap times and energy deployment figures impressed rival teams, the driver behind the wheel was far less enthused.
"To drive [they are] not a lot of fun, to be honest," he said. "I would say the right word is management. It's not very Formula 1-like. It feels a bit more like Formula E on steroids.
“But the rules are the same for everyone, so you have to deal with that.
"As a pure driver, I enjoy driving flat out and at the moment, you cannot drive like that. There's a lot going on. A lot of what you do as a driver, in terms of inputs, has a massive effect on the energy side of things.
“For me, that's just not Formula 1. Maybe it's then better to drive Formula E, right? Because that's all about energy, efficiency and management."
For a sport long celebrated for raw speed and reported bravery, Verstappen’s comparison to Formula E – even “on steroids” – lands like a thunderclap.
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The core of his complaint isn’t outright performance; it’s the suffocating emphasis on battery juggling and efficiency calculations, a far cry from the pedal-to-the-metal ethos that defined his rise.
"We're energy poor. I just want normal driving, just how it should be without having to [say]: 'Oh, if I brake a bit longer or less or more, or one gear up or down.' It so heavily impacts the performance on the straights.
Plus, the grip at the moment is quite low with these tyres and the car configuration. It is a big step back to how it was."
Respect for the Team – But No Holding Back
Despite the sting in his words, Verstappen was careful not to aim his frustration at Red Bull’s engineers, who have poured years into preparing both chassis and power unit for the sweeping regulation overhaul.
He praised the car’s visual design and acknowledged the immense behind-the-scenes effort, even as he doubled down on his broader dissatisfaction.
"Honestly, the proportion of the car looks good, I think. That's not the problem. It's just everything else that is a bit, for me, anti-racing,” he explained.
"Probably people will not be happy with me saying this right now. But I am outspoken and why am I not allowed to say what I think of my race car? I can't help that.
"I mean, I didn't write the regulation. If it was, I think, up to non-political aspects of making a regulation, I think, anyway, the car would have probably have looked very different."
The message was clear: the issue isn’t Red Bull – it’s the rulebook. Verstappen painted a picture of a car that looks sleek in the garage but feels restrained on the circuit, a machine that demands spreadsheets where instinct once ruled.
"On the other hand, I also know how much work has been going on in the background," he added. "Also from the engine side, for the guys. So, it's not always the nicest thing to say. But I also want to be realistic as a driver, the feeling.
"I also know what is at stake with the team; our own engine and seeing the excitement of the people. Of course, when I sit in the car, I will always give it my very best. They know that. Excitement level is not so high to drive."
Fun Over Trophies?
Perhaps most striking was Verstappen’s admission that winning alone may no longer be enough to keep him anchored in Formula 1.
The four-time world champion has previously hinted that enjoyment – not just championships – will shape his future, and his Bahrain experience did little to soften that stance.
"A winning car for me, that doesn't matter. It needs to be fun to drive as well," the four-time world champion insisted.
"I think at this stage of my career I am also exploring other things outside of Formula 1 to have fun at. know that we're stuck with this regulation for quite a while. So, yeah, let's see."
That “let’s see” echoed ominously through the paddock, where speculation about his long-term commitment to the sport has already been simmering.
The Nürburgring 24 Hours, for instance, seems to spark more visible excitement than another season of energy-limited grand prix racing.
"I mean, looking at it now, at least you can drive flat out there without looking after my battery...,” he said, mischievously.
"I want to do it. We are working on it to make it happen, but I cannot confirm it yet."
In a sport increasingly shaped by sustainability targets and hybrid sophistication, Verstappen’s outburst serves as a stark reminder: Formula 1’s biggest star still yearns for the simplest thrill of all – flat-out speed, no strings attached.
Whether the new generation of cars can deliver that, or risk pushing him toward other racing horizons, may become one of the defining storylines of the 2026 era.
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