Verstappen hits back at ex-F1 drivers over regulation criticism

Max Verstappen has little patience for critics who question his outspoken views on Formula 1’s 2026 regulations, and the four-time world champion believes some of his former rivals are talking about rules they have barely bothered to understand.

The Red Bull driver has become one of the most vocal opponents of F1’s 2026 technical overhaul, which has introduced new power units placing a much greater emphasis on electrical energy.

His blunt assessment of the new era has earned him plenty of support, but also considerable pushback from former drivers who believe his complaints have gone too far.

Verstappen, however, suspects some of those critics are missing the point entirely.

Speaking to De Telegraaf during the Singapore Grand Prix weekend, the Dutchman was shown comments from 1996 world champion Damon Hill, who had previously suggested that Verstappen might need a break from the sport after the Red Bull driver admitted following the Japanese Grand Prix that he had considered quitting.

Rather than backing down, Verstappen questioned whether some former drivers were sufficiently informed to comment on the technical changes.

Verstappen questions critics’ understanding

“Do you know what the problem is with a lot of ex-drivers?” Verstappen said. “They don’t study the new regulations at all.

“So they don’t know exactly how the engine runs and exactly how it works. Then they get asked about it on television, and sometimes very strange answers come out.”

The Dutchman was careful not to paint every former driver with the same brush, adding that it “doesn’t apply to everyone, but it does apply to a number of them”.

His frustration reflects a wider debate over F1’s new generation of cars, whose increased reliance on electrical power has changed how drivers manage energy and deploy performance over a lap.

Verstappen has repeatedly argued that the resulting compromises have damaged the driving experience, even going as far as contemplating an early exit from the championship.

Hill was among those who questioned the four-time champion’s reaction earlier this season, suggesting that stepping away temporarily might help him regain perspective.

Yet Verstappen clearly believes that understanding the technical detail is essential before passing judgement on his objections.

‘I just say what I think’

Despite receiving support from Fernando Alonso and Lando Norris over aspects of his criticism, Verstappen insists he is not campaigning for a united front against F1’s rules.

“I just say what I think, what is wrong in my eyes and what could be improved,” he continued.

“Sometimes I get criticised for that by certain people, or they say they don’t understand what I mean. But in the end, it will become clear whether something is good or bad.”

That final point carries particular weight as F1 continues to assess the consequences of its sweeping technical changes.

Whether the regulations ultimately deliver the racing and spectacle their architects intended remains a subject of debate, with Verstappen convinced that some of the problems he has identified will become increasingly apparent.

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His immediate results, meanwhile, offer little incentive to walk away. Having extended his Red Bull contract until 2030 just two months ago, Verstappen has since claimed consecutive victories in Malaysia and Singapore.

And those wins have restored some momentum to Verstappen’s campaign, but they have done little to soften his stance on the new era.

If anything, his message remains unchanged: success on track does not mean he intends to stay quiet about what he believes is wrong with the sport.

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