Eliminated in Q1 in Melbourne after an accident, Max Verstappen delivered a very harsh critique of the new 2026 F1 cars. The Dutchman even questions the concept of the single-seaters.
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The first qualifying session of the 2026 F1 season will long remain in Max Verstappen’s memory… but certainly not for the right reasons. The four-time world champion saw his attempt end prematurely in Q1 after going off track in the first corner.
As he was starting a flying lap, a technical problem seems to have disrupted his car, sending him straight into the barriers. The impact didn’t just end his session: it also caused a violent jolt in the steering wheel, which struck his wrists.
As a precaution, the Red Bull driver was immediately taken to the circuit’s medical center for examinations. After several checks and scans, doctors finally confirmed that no serious injuries were reported.
But once back in front of the media, Verstappen appeared significantly more shaken by his car’s performance… and by the direction the sport is taking.
“I take no pleasure in these cars”
The Dutchman did not try to hide his annoyance with the cars introduced in 2026. According to him, the regulatory changes have profoundly altered the nature of driving — and not in a good way.
“There are so many things we need to look at in this sport. I said what I thought. I take absolutely no pleasure in these cars.”
For Verstappen, the problems are visible even to spectators. The onboard footage, according to him, is telling enough to illustrate the difficulties encountered by the drivers.
“I think if you look at the onboard cameras, you see enough.”
Even before addressing these criticisms, the world champion had also been annoyed by the leak of certain discussions from the drivers’ briefing.
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“It’s a bit strange… Drivers shouldn’t talk. I don’t find that very professional.”
A regulation difficult to correct
Faced with growing criticism, Formula 1 is already considering certain technical adjustments, particularly regarding the energy management of the power units. But Verstappen is very skeptical about the effectiveness of these measures.
“There’s nothing you can really do about energy management. You can only make the car slower.”
According to him, this type of modification would only alleviate the symptoms without solving the underlying problem: “The formula is simply not right. And that’s something much harder to change.”
Mercedes already out of reach?
Beyond technical questions, the sporting observation is just as concerning for Red Bull. Qualifying confirmed a clear hierarchy: Mercedes seems to have a significant lead.
The gap to pole position is around eight-tenths of a second, a substantial margin at this level of competition.
“We need to improve the car and the engine to fight against Mercedes. We’re not here to be third, fourth, or fifth. We’re here to win.”
Despite everything, Verstappen claims he is not surprised by this dominance. According to him, winter testing had already hinted at this trend: “I already said it in Bahrain. For me, it’s not a surprise.”
One thing is certain: with a controversial regulation and a technical gap to close, Red Bull could be facing a much more complicated 2026 season than expected.
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“It will be a long season,” warns Verstappen.