A bold statement from Jos Verstappen has sparked a conversation about the future of Formula 1. He revealed that his son, Max, faced laughter and skepticism when he raised concerns about the upcoming 2026 F1 cars. This year's challengers, built under new regulations, have left Max and other drivers with a sour taste.
The changes to aerodynamics and power units have resulted in cars that Max described as "Formula E on steroids" and "anti-racing." The new regulations require drivers to manage energy harvesting and deployment, which significantly impacts lap times.
In an interview with Viaplay, Jos emphasized that Max's complaints are not new. "Max was speaking about this two or three years ago," Jos explained. "He had insights, but people laughed it off, calling him negative."
Now, with the regulations in place, Jos believes it's clear that drivers' opinions should be valued more. "They should listen to the drivers, but they don't," he added.
The starting procedure and wheel-to-wheel racing with the new cars have been major points of discussion during pre-season testing. Max suggests that these issues could have been avoided if the decision-makers had sought input from the drivers earlier.
"I understand drivers shouldn't decide everything," Max, the four-time champion, said. "But when it comes to logical racing decisions, we can provide valuable insights. We can test in simulators and identify potential problems. F1 and the FIA sometimes underestimate the role drivers play in decision-making."
This revelation has sparked a debate: Should drivers have a greater say in the future of Formula 1? What do you think? Join the conversation in the comments and share your thoughts!
