James Hinchcliffe says Max Verstappen’s F1 complaints are ‘ironic’ amid GT3 ventures

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James Hinchcliffe has found irony in Max Verstappen’s criticism of the 2026 Formula 1 regulations, given the rules in sports car racing.

From the moment the new regulations were announced, the Dutchman was immediately against them. Now that he is driving them, that criticism has only got more brutal as he registered just 12 points in the first three races of 2026.

The Red Bull driver does not like how he needs to drive the car with the battery and the need to recharge and deploy it during races. Verstappen has put options on the table for the FIA as he calls for changes to the rules, but Hinchcliffe finds these complaints ‘ironic’

Verstappen is considering retiring from F1 at the end of the 2026 season, with an exit clause allowing him to break his Red Bull contract this year. Rumours are rife as to whether he will sign with another team or take a sabbatical.

Many people have pointed towards the latter, with Verstappen racing in GT3 during the April break. The 28-year-old is heavily interested in sports car racing, and he is set to compete in the 24-hour race at the Nurburgring.

James Hinchcliffe calls Max Verstappen’s F1 criticism ‘ironic’ due to Balance of Performance in GT3

But Hinchcliffe has seen irony in Verstappen’s criticism, as categories such as the World Endurance Championship have the Balance of Performance, which aims to level the playing field if a team or car establishes an advantage.

F1 have a similar system in 2026 with the Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities, or ADUO. Speaking on the Off Track podcast, Hinchcliffe finds Verstappen’s criticism ‘ironic’ as he shows an interest in a category that has rules that he hates in F1.

He said: “The fact that he’s exploring all the GT3 stuff as much as he is, I think solidifies that. He seems to be enjoying that.

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“I do find it a little bit ironic that he’s really kind of gravitated towards a form of motorsports that literally has BoP, like it adjusts each car to make it more even.

“But I guess, at least once you’re in it and while you’re testing and stuff, you drive around not to the full extent of your abilities or the car’s pace to avoid getting slapped by BoP.

“One of the things that you and I hate the most about sports car racing is exactly that, which is kind of what he doesn’t like about the new F1 rules. I find that part a little ironic.”

READ MORE: Red Bull driver Max Verstappen’s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriend

Nikolas Tombazis says F1’s ADUO is not a Balance of Performance

Interestingly, Verstappen and Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff have openly criticised the BoP in sports car racing, most notably at Le Mans, and how it affects the action on track.

Verstappen has said that he would not tackle Le Mans until the BoP is refined. Many people have drawn comparisons between the BoP and ADUO in F1 this year, but FIA chief Nikolas Tombazis shut down any chance of such a system being implemented.

He said in an interview for V Motori: “The details of the procedure have been gradually refined with the manufacturers. It is important to be clear: this is not Balance of Performance.

“In Formula 1 it will never happen that a car receives an artificial boost in performance, nor that it is slowed by adding weight or reducing power. That will never happen.”