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Max Verstappen’s one complaint about the 2026 Formula 1 regulations has been ‘justified’ by Christian Danner.
During the early stages of the 2026 Formula 1 season, Max Verstappen has been vocal regarding his opinions on the new regulations that have been added to the sport.
After the first test at the Bahrain International Circuit, Verstappen compared Formula 1 to Formula E due to the use of the hybrid engines that are now in the Formula 1 cars.
There have been mixed reactions to the new regulations, but Verstappen’s have been the loudest and have also received the most backlash.
Would Max Verstappen be complaining about F1’s 2026 regulations if he had joined Mercedes?
Christian Danner believes Max Verstappen’s views are ‘justified’
Whilst discussing the Chinese Grand Prix with Motorsport-Magazin, the former Formula 1 driver, Christian Danner, defended Verstappen’s ‘justified’ criticism of the 2026 regulations.
The German driver has suggested that Verstappen is allowed to express his own opinion as he is ‘someone who says what he thinks’.
Danner said, “Max Verstappen’s criticism of these rules is quite justified, and there are two very important things to consider. This is not some random man who is pontificating something he knows nothing about; rather, this is a multiple world champion who has won races with a car that was not in the best condition.
“There are people who say that now he is lagging behind and struggling in eighth place, he is complaining, I will be frank, at that point you really have not recognised Max at all. Max Verstappen is someone who says what he thinks.
“He’s been complaining about the same things since 2023, namely that the whole thing has nothing to do with racing, particularly because he’s constantly being held back by energy recovery measures imposed by the software, rather than maximising his flow during a lap and a race so that he really does brake at the very last moment and really does carry all that speed through the straight. And that’s certainly no longer the case today.”
Max Verstappen says he’s swapped the simulator for Mario Kart… 🎮
But the real question is: which track is he grinding laps on? 👀
The FIA reject Max Verstappen’s proposed regulation changes
After the Chinese GP, journalist Ronald Vording spoke to the FIA about the regulations and to see if any changes were planned due to drivers’ negative opinions.
He said, “There won’t be any major changes for Japan. The FIA has always said… they don’t want to make any major changes for Japan.”
Due to the hostilities in the Middle East, there will be a long gap in the Formula 1 calendar between the Japanese Grand Prix and the Miami Grand Prix after the cancellations of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix.
This will give teams a chance to better understand the 2026 regulations and make changes to their cars, which may help Red Bull improve their downforce issues.
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