Max Verstappen has sharply criticized Formula 1’s hybrid engine rules, declaring he is “fed up” with repeating his warnings as more rivals finally acknowledge the flaws he identified years ago. The Red Bull driver, a four-time world champion, has been consistently opposed to the 50:50 power output split between internal combustion engines (ICE) and electric power, denouncing the formula as “anti-racing” and comparing it to “Formula E on steroids” during pre-season testing.
Verstappen’s concerns relate to 2023, after he raised the alarm about the direction of F1’s technical roadmap. “It feels terrible,” Verstappen said at the time, highlighting that at Monza, drivers were forced to downshift on the straights despite being at full speed. “If you go down the straight at Monza, I don’t know what it is, like 400 or 500 meters before the end of the straight, you have to go straight down because it’s faster. I think that’s not the way to go.” He warned the rules risked turning F1 into an ICE arms race, increasing costs and diverting attention from the competition. “It seems like it’s going to be an ICE competition, as if whoever has the strongest engine will have a big advantage. But I don’t think that should be the intention of Formula 1, because then you’ll start a massive development war again, and finding a few horsepower here and there will become quite expensive. I think it should actually be the opposite,” Verstappen said.
The first ten races of the 2026 season have exposed the weaknesses of the 50:50 engine power split, prompting F1 to consider adjusting the ratio to 60:40 in favor of ICEs by 2028, in an effort to reduce reliance on electric power. Verstappen’s warnings have taken hold, particularly as his Red Bull team has struggled for performance since the start of 2026 – a period that has seen his most vocal criticism and accusations by opponents who claimed his dissatisfaction was driven by “sour grapes” over his inability to challenge for victory.
Recent rounds at energy-sensitive venues such as Silverstone and Spa have increased the number of complaints from drivers, with issues such as “lift and coast” tactics and “super-clipping” dominating, particularly at Spa. Verstappen noted this change in sentiment, saying, “I have already spoken my mind about these rules for a long time, and in the beginning, most people were saying: ‘Ah, he’s complaining, he should shut up,’ but I have to say that in the last few races, more and more people are seeing what I’ve been seeing for a long time.”
Verstappen insisted that his criticism stemmed from genuine concern for sporting performance, not personal frustration. “It’s not about me not winning anymore; it’s just because I care about the product, and because I’ve said it so many times, at some point, it gets enough, right?” he explained. “But of course, people keep asking, and maybe it’s not always appreciated, but I’m just speaking my mind because you see certain things, and then sometimes people say: ‘Ah, yes, but it was a great race.’ I said: ‘Yes, but it’s not really realistic, the way we’re racing,’ and then you get to some tracks, and you’re not driving at very much horsepower for F1 standards, and that’s a bit painful, which I’ve already seen for years.
Verstappen concluded, “So again, sure, it’s not the most exciting, but at some point, I get a little fed up of repeating myself, because it’s already hard enough to drive.”
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