Max Verstappen’s 2023 warning on ‘terrible’ 2026 F1 rules proves accurate during Bahrain Testing

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Max Verstappen has been very open regarding his opinion on the 2026 Formula 1 regulations at the Bahrain Test.

After testing his Red Bull with the new Formula 1 regulations at Barcelona and Bahrain, Max Verstappen has described how the cars feel on track.

Although Verstappen is a fan of the proportions of the cars, he is not a fan of how it feels to drive and has compared it to ‘Formula E on steroids’.

The four-time Champion is not the only driver who has voiced his concerns about the 2026 regulations; Lewis Hamilton has also expressed frustration with the new rules.

Have the 2026 regulations made F1 worse, with Max Verstappen likening driving the new cars to Formula E?

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

Max Verstappen predicted the future back in 2023

During a press conference in 2023, Verstappen was asked about the 2026 F1 regulations. During this discussion, he made claims that have since become a reality.

At the time, the Red Bull driver suggested that, from the data he had seen from simulated runs of the 2026 F1 cars, the new regulations were ‘not the way forward’.

A clip of Verstappen’s comments re-emerged on X on Thursday. It has since been watched 215,000 times and has been liked over 4,000 times.

In 2023, Verstappen said, “I have seen the data on the simulator, and to me it looks pretty terrible. If you go flat out on the straight at Monza, and 400 or 500 metres before the end of the straight, you have to downshift, which I don’t think is the way forward.

“For me, the problem is it looks like it is going to be an ICE competition, so whoever has the strongest engine will have a big benefit, which I don’t think should be the intention of Formula 1. Because that will start a massive development war again, which will become quite expensive.

“The cars will probably have a lot less drag, so it will be even harder to overtake on the straight. Then there is the active aerodynamics, which you can’t control; the system will control it for you.

“I think that makes it very awkward to drive, because I prefer to control it myself, because when you are behind someone, maybe you need more on the front or the rear. If the system starts to control it, I don’t think that is the right way forward.

“To me, it looks very bad from all the numbers and what I have seen from the data, so it is not something I am very excited about.”

Max Verstappen summoned by F1 officials after latest comments

Due to his comments in interviews on Thursday at the Bahrain Test, Max Verstappen was summoned to meet with F1 officials.

Reports suggest that F1 press officers immediately contacted Red Bull after Verstappen’s comments were made public as they ‘sought a meeting’ with the driver.

Despite F1 officials requesting drivers wait a few races before releasing a true verdict on the new regulations, Verstappen appears to have seen enough in the early days of testing.

These new regulations are here to stay in Formula 1, and there have been further suggestions that Verstappen may decide to retire in the near future if he does not enjoy racing in the series. However, according to Toto Wolff, Red Bull has the best car on the grid in the early stages of the year.