Verstappen Says F1's New Energy Rules Strip Driving Skill And Make Racing Less Fun

Max Verstappen has publicly criticised Formula 1’s new energy-management rules, saying they have made driving less fun and joking that he has “swapped the simulator for my Nintendo Switch” to practice Mario Kart instead.

“Max Verstappen says he wishes the new Formula 1 was "more fun" but is hopeful the sport is heading towards changes that will "improve everything"”

BBC

The comments were delivered with irony but underline Verstappen’s frustration that the new regulations force a different, less enjoyable approach to driving, as he and other drivers adapt to stricter battery and energy constraints.

BBC

His remark about using a games console rather than the simulator was reported across major outlets as emblematic of top drivers’ dissatisfaction with the current rule set.

Drivers and team personnel say the new regs change the style of driving by prioritising energy management over raw corner speed, a shift that several drivers describe as ‘very, very different’ and strategically focused on battery deployment rather than pure car control.

The BBC explained how the era’s different demands mean drivers “can still make a difference by driving the power unit in the correct way” but that the feel and criteria for success have changed, and that some corners will reward energy management rather than bravery.

Corriere dello Sport

Verstappen and others have characterised the current situation as chaotic or a “jungle” as teams and drivers try to adapt their driving techniques and race strategies to the new limitations.

The rule changes have spawned new on-track tactics such as “clipping” — using high-speed sections to reduce engine output and charge the battery — which affects how teams allocate energy across a lap and across a race.

“El piloto neerlandés Max Verstappen (Red Bull) bromeó este jueves sobre la nueva normativa de la Fórmula 1 y la gestión de la energía en los monoplazas, asegurando con ironía que ha sustituido el trabajo en el simulador por su “Nintendo Switch y el Mario Kart””

MADRID ACTUAL

BBC coverage details how teams now deliberately manage rear-axle output and battery recharge during high-speed sections, and that these technical workarounds are central to modern racecraft under the new rules.

Verstappen has seized on the perception that the battery regulations are flawed, calling for FIA-approved fixes and warning about safety consequences of starting races with depleted battery levels.

Opinions differ on whether the new rules have improved the spectacle: some drivers, like Charles Leclerc, said he enjoyed a strategic battle that used new electrical ‘boost’ modes to overtake, while others argue the regulations have made qualifying and pure wheel-to-wheel aggression less satisfying.

The BBC quoted Leclerc saying he was “positively surprised by the battles” but also acknowledged the consensus that qualifying is “less enjoyable.”

Tuttosport

Verstappen, meanwhile, has said his priority is to be competitive again and has been blunt that his car cannot currently match rivals, framing the dissatisfaction in competitive as well as stylistic terms.

Despite his criticism, Verstappen made clear he does not intend to leave Formula 1 and said he is combining F1 with other driving projects to regain enjoyment, including an expressed interest in classic and endurance events.

“Max Verstappen says he wishes the new Formula 1 was "more fun" but is hopeful the sport is heading towards changes that will "improve everything"”

BBC

Spanish coverage records Verstappen saying “No quiero irme… me gustaría divertirme un poco más” and mentioning ambitions for circuits like the Nordschleife, Spa and events such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans as alternative ways to find fun.

BBC

Italian reporting also framed the comments ahead of the Shanghai Grand Prix and noted his broader desire to see regulatory fixes approved by the FIA.