Red Bull driver and four-time Formula 1 World Champion Max Verstappen has voiced his concerns regarding the new regulation changes for the 2026 F1 season.
When the new technical regulations were originally announced back on June 6th 2024, teams were thrown into disarray with the prospect of smaller and lighter cars designed for closer combat, new aerodynamics, and a brand new 50/50 combustion and electric engine.
For all teams, the six days of pre-season testing in Bahrain allowed the teams to analyse their data and implement changes to their cars ahead of the first race if the season at the Australian GP in Melbourne. While a vast majority of the results across the eleven teams being positive, Verstappen claims that this new season will be tough for the average viewer to follow.
New regulations, new challenges
A lot of Verstappen’s concerns for F1 2026 come from the changes to the aerodynamics, with the removal of the DRS system and the new eclectic and combustion engines.
Replacing the DRS system is the Active Aero system, which allows the smaller front and rear wings of the car to be adjusted to the needed angle for the specific track, and to be activated manually by the drivers on the straights.
Verstappen said to Viaplay: “But because everyone now has the wings open on the straights, overtaking and defending will be different. The question is how much battery you can use at that moment, which is also quite limited.”
The new power unit, though still a 1.6-litre V6 hybrid, has been split into a 50/50 combustion and electric engine. With the output of the electric motor tripled, the output of the combustion engine has been cut to allow for a more equal distribution of power.
Verstappen’s greatest concern is the added step of conserving more battery power during a race: “You have a certain amount of energy you can deploy over a lap, and then it depends on how good your engine is and how efficient your car is on the straights. So, there are many elements that have to come together.”
The existing engine manufacturers supplying the new power units for the grid such as Mercedes, who supply themselves, McLaren, Williams and Alpine, and for Ferrari with themselves, Haas and Cadillac, these suppliers have already cemented their data within their teams. With the addition of Ford supplying both Red Bull teams, Audi becoming a works team, and Honda supplying Aston Martin, there is a great deal of specifications that they must follow regarding the new regulations, which for these different suppliers, could greatly enhance some teams over others.
Verstappen concerned over F1 2026 season followability
Because of these new regulation changes, Verstappen claims that the more intricate details of these regulations will be lost on fans and casual viewers.
With the sport continuing to grow in popularity, the viewership count continues to increase. Since its first aired season in 2019, Drive to Survive and its exclusive yet dramatized behind the scenes sequences have played a large role in the increasing popularity of Formula 1. Brad Pitt’s ‘F1’ has also increased the sport’s viewership drastically.
Verstappen’s claim that the followability of the new season does hold merit, whether that be for fans, casual or not, who wish to follow along with the season’s events, or whether it be keeping up with the on-track action relative with these new regulations.
The cars have been redesigned for closer combat, more overtaking, and closer action between the teams overall. However, Verstappen’s comments on the new power units and the Active Aero system, and his own enjoyment with the new F1 2026 cars are cause for concern.
Verstappen claims that for any driver to continue in their sport, they have to enjoy what they do: “And the way we are currently trying to explain it to the average viewer – and even when I look at the data – I do ask myself: is this what we really want?”
With the Australian GP fast approaching this weekend, the four-time F1 World Champion’s view on the regulation changes certainly diminishes the positive energy surrounding the first race of the season, while Verstappen also briefly insinuating that he is uncertain about the continuation of his Formula 1 career as a result.
