Verstappen dismisses other F1 drivers 2026 comments – Its just twenty one weeks time, the all new Formula One cars and powertrains will take to the Circuit de Catalunya for an extended pre-season series of tests. Most teams are now fully focused on the biggest regulation changes in living memory with just minor upgrades to come for their current challengers.
A large part of the design work is based on simulation tools which includes getting the drivers behind the wheel of a theoretical version of the new cars.
Charles Leclerc was one of the first to break his silence stating boldly, “not the most enjoyable race car I’ve driven so far,” adding “I’m not a fan of it for now.” He attributed this to reduced downforce and the added complexity of energy management systems concluding “probably, less enjoyable for drivers to drive.”
Stroll claims F1 drivers gagged over 2026 rules
Lance Stroll raised eyebrows in the paddock when he suggested come of his competitors were being gagged from offering their views. “I think it’s a bit of a shame F1 is just taking that path of electric energy and we’ve had to shut all the downforce off the cars to support the battery power,” he said. “I think a lot of the drivers can agree on that. Maybe some of them can’t talk about it for political reasons.”
During the summer break, Sebastian Vettel was asked for his views on F1’s future and he explained he was puzzled by the approach the FIA and the manufacturers. “Auto racing has different requirements. Those of the 24 Hours of Le Mans are completely different from those of Formula 1 or the lower categories. In any case, that won’t work with all-electric engines. The new regulations still don’t quite convince me. Energy recovery is fine, but applying it only to the rear axle and ignoring the front does not seem logical to me,” the German told AMuS.
As the F1 circus returns to the Netherlands after its summer break Max Verstappen on home turf has opened up on his opinion of the impending big regulation change, and he believes some his his fellow competitors comments are premature.
Verstappen cautious over first impressions
The world champion explains that his approach to 2026 remains incremental. “Step by step,” he told Dutch media, outlining that although the immediate focus is still on the current season, the groundwork for the future is already underway. He stressed that drivers inevitably begin by reacting to what the engineers create, before feeding back insights that might guide adjustments.
The reigning champion confirmed that he spent time in the simulator earlier this week. Yet he downplayed its usefulness at this stage, suggesting that the simulated experience can be shaped into almost anything depending on how the software is configured. “You don’t have much use for that at the moment,” he admitted.
Aston Martin’s reserve driver Felipe Drugovich also drove the Aston Martin simulated 2026 car during the summer break. He appeared wired by the experience stating: “Coming out of the corners, the car accelerates like crazy. You feel like you’re sitting on a rocket.”
Russell explosive statement about Antonelli
Max appears cautious about Red Bull progress
However, the 2022 F2 champion did concede he felt the car slow as it continued along the straight as the battery power began to fade. In comparison to a number of his fellow drivers, Verstappen for now prefers to keep his thoughts to himself on how things will shake out in 2026.
“I prefer to keep a low profile,” he said, refusing to be drawn into either criticism or praise of what he has seen so far. “There is no point in being negative or positive anyway, let’s just wait and see.”
And thus, in typical Verstappen fashion, the Dutchman has opted for the diplomatic shrug — a posture that says both everything and nothing at once. For a driver never shy to tell rival teams where to stick their complaints, his sudden monk-like restraint on the 2026 cars feels almost suspicious. Perhaps as Lance Stroll suggests Red Bull have sworn him to silence, or perhaps, with his current title hopes evaporating faster than a Red Bull junior career, Verstappen has decided that less really is more.
F1’s future hurtling into view
This is not the first time a simulator has left a driver unconvinced. Formula One simulators, despite their multi-million-pound complexity, have long been the equivalent of high-tech video games: astonishingly realistic when you want them to be, and laughably unconvincing when you do not. One suspects Verstappen’s scepticism may have less to do with physics and more to do with the fact that he simply does not need reassurance from a screen to know whether a car is fast. The stopwatch, not the simulator, has always been his chosen oracle.
Still, the fact that Verstappen is already strapping into the digital version of Red Bull’s 2026 challenger underlines how quickly the future is becoming the present. The cars may not turn a wheel for another five months, but the battle for supremacy under the new rules has already begun — even if Max is not ready to provide his verdict just yet.
So, jury, what do you make of Verstappen’s cautious stance? Is the Dutchman wisely keeping his powder dry, or does his reluctance to weigh in hint that the early signs of 2026 may not be as promising as Red Bull would like us to believe? Do simulators truly offer a glimpse of tomorrow’s Formula One, or are they simply expensive gaming rigs designed to keep drivers occupied between races? As ever in this sport, the answers may only arrive once the lights go out for real.
Piastri mistakes masked, while Norris gets the blame
This year the Formula One drivers’ title will be going to one of the McLaren duo. With Max Verstappen in third place in the standings but some 97 points behind Oscar Piastri the leader, the final ten races of the season will be about whether Lando Norris or his Aussie team mate becomes an F1 champion for the first time.
In their two prior seasons together Lando Norris with his four extra years of experience in the sport has been the clear winner in the McLaren team mate duel. He finished ahead of Piastri last year by a hefty 82 points which was an improvement for the Australian on his rookie seasons deficit to Norris of 108 points.
With McLaren building the dominant car for 2025, expectations were that once again Norris would come out ahead in the intra team battle at Woking, yet right from there off in Australia Piastri looked a different driver when compared to previous years…. READ MORE
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