Mystic Max Verstappen knew F1 regulations would be bad - he told you years ago

Max Verstappen

Mystic Max Verstappen knew F1 regulations would be bad - he told you years ago

Max Verstappen was sceptical about the new regulations all the way back in 2023

Sheona Mountford F1 Journalist

Motorsport journalist working in F1 since 2024.

Wednesday 1 April 2026 21:30

A remarkably accurate prediction from Max Verstappen about the 2026 Formula 1 regulations has resurfaced, originally made back in 2023.

One of the key challenges facing Red Bull leadership this season will be convincing Verstappen to remain in the sport, as, just three races into the new era, he already seems close to walking away.

Following the Japanese Grand Prix weekend, Dutch media indicated that Verstappen was 'seriously considering' retiring from Formula 1, also suggesting that his current experience with the new cars 'isn’t healthy,' as he hinted in his own post-race comments.

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Verstappen's main issue with the new cars is in relation to energy harvesting and management, having to use methods such as super clipping or lifting and coasting instead of taking a track flat out.

Verstappen's 2026 prophecy

The quotes took place at the 2023 Austrian Grand Prix post-race press conference, where Verstappen was asked about the new rules. The exchange went as follows:

Interviewer: "Christian Horner, he talked a lot about the 2026 regulations this weekend and he fears that if the engine regulations stay as they are now, that on the chassis side, a lot has to change with active aerodynamics, maybe even downshifting on the straights because the drag has to be reduced so much. He thinks that's not the way forward for Formula 1. What's your opinion on that?"

Verstappen then responded: "I've been talking about that as well with the team and I've seen the data already on the simulator as well. To me, it looks pretty terrible.

"I mean, if you go flat-out on the straight at Monza, I don't know what it is, like four or five hundred before the end of the straight, you have to downshift flat-out because that's faster. I think that's not the way forward. Of course, probably that's one of the worst tracks.

"But for me, the problem is, it looks like it's going to be an ICE competition, like whoever has the strongest engine will have a big benefit. But I don't think that should be the intention of Formula 1, because then you will start a massive development war again, and it will become quite expensive to find, probably a few horsepower here and there. I think it actually should be opposite. Plus, the cars probably have a lot less drag. So, it will be even harder to overtake on the straight."

Verstappen: 2026 regs look very bad

"And then I think yeah, you have the active aerodynamics, which you can’t control. Well, it will be… I don't know… the system will control it for you. Which then I think makes it very awkward to drive, because I prefer to control it myself. Of course, when you're behind someone, maybe you need more front or more rear. These kind of things. If the system starts to control that for you, I don't think that's the right way forward.

"Plus, the weight is going up again. So yeah, we have to seriously look at this because I mean, '26 is not that far away. And at the moment, to me, it looks very bad from all the numbers and what I see from the data already. So, it's not something I'm very excited about at the moment."

F1 Red Bull Max Verstappen 2026 regulations Austrian Grand Prix