Lando Norris
McLaren
Mercedes
Red Bull
Ferrari
Williams
Racing Bulls
Aston Martin
Haas
Alpine
Jean Alesi thinks Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Ferrari ace Charles Leclerc are having the same problem adapting their driving styles to suit the 2026 F1 engine regulations.
Formula 1 introduced new power units this season as part of its biggest regulatory overhaul in history alongside new chassis and aerodynamic rules. Red Bull racer Verstappen has been one of the most vocal critics of the new regulations, which could even now see him leave F1.
Verstappen claimed he must “figure out” his future in F1 after failing to get into a Q3 session at Suzuka for the first time since 2015 when Formula 1 visited Japan in March. After finishing the Japanese Grand Prix in P8, he also claimed he has to decide “is it worth it?” to stay in F1.
Alesi feels qualifying for the Japanese GP, as Verstappen only came P11, also delivered proof that the Red Bull racer and Ferrari star Leclerc are in the same boat with their issues. Leclerc qualified P4 for the Japanese GP, which he turned into his second P3 finish of the year so far.
Jos Verstappen doubts Max Verstappen will leave Red Bull because of Gianpiero Lambiase’s departure like he vowed in 2021 – Who do you think should replace GP?
Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc are both ‘slower’ by being ‘faster in every corner’
Qualifying has been an issue for Leclerc so far this year, as he continues to adapt to the new regulations. Leclerc fumed “I honestly cannot stand quali” under the 2026 F1 regulations in Japan, as he lamented how driving faster in the corners cost him lap time on the straights.
READ MORE: The five worst moments of Max Verstappen’s career in Formula 1
Former Ferrari F1 driver Alesi thinks Verstappen and Leclerc are having the same issues with losing out compared to their rivals by being faster in the corners. Ahead of the Japanese GP, Leclerc said “slight” throttle lifts cost Ferrari an “absurd” amount of time down the straights.
Alesi told RacingNews365: “Max is struggling a lot at the moment, really struggling, because you see the system they have now with the car, the way they operate the throttle, they have less electric power.
“Is it, at the moment, right now, the point where the fast drivers are more in trouble than the other ones? Maybe, because you see the qualifying here [in Japan], Max and Charles, they have been faster in every corner, but slower at the end of the lap time.”
Leclerc’s issues stemmed from the amount of energy that Ferrari lose through minor lifts off the throttle that they cannot then deploy on the straights. F1 drivers are largely now having to sacrifice pushing in the corners to recharge their battery, as it is more useful on straights.
Alain Prost’s iconic Ferrari 642 is heading to auction!
But if you could pick just one of the Frenchman's cars to own, which one would it be? 🤔
Red Bull’s chronic balance problems are also costing Verstappen further, as he cannot attack as easily in the corners. Verstappen called the Red Bull RB22 “undriveable” during qualifying in Japan, as he dealt with understeer on turn-in then snaps of oversteer under acceleration.
Thus, the best that Verstappen managed in qualifying in Japan was P11 with a 1:30.262 lap – 1.214 seconds off the Q2 pace set by Andrea Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes. He was also 0.811s slower than Leclerc, and missed out on a Q3 place by 0.153s to Racing Bulls’ Arvid Lindblad.
Verstappen did not finish higher than his P6 in the Australian Grand Prix over the first three rounds of the 2026 F1 season, too, after he retired while P6 in China. Leclerc finished inside the top four in each of the opening three Grands Prix – with P3 in Australia and P4 in China.
Receive exclusive F1 news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
