Where is Formula 1 headed in 2026? The manufacturers agree: towards more electric and fully synthetic, climate-neutral fuels. But it is precisely the stronger electrical component that causes unrest. World champion Max Verstappen now explains how he wants Formula 1 to be in the future – and it looks very different than planned.
“The [aktuellen] Cars are obviously incredibly fast,” he says. “But I really liked the 2020 and 2021 cars. They were a bit more maneuverable and more fun, but they were also very difficult.”
Verstappen has also driven older Formula 1 cars with V8 engines: “Every time I drive a V8 car again, I’m amazed at how smooth the engine is. The top speed is lower compared to what we do have now. But that is simply due to the dynamics of the engine and the torque.”
“The power is delivered so smoothly. The downshifts, the upshifts, everything is so much more natural than what we have now.”
The linear power delivery of the V8 engines, which Sebastian Vettel, among others, found so accommodating, is currently offset by a larger torque boost in the lower speed range thanks to the electric drive and turbocharger. Since 2022, the aerodynamic concept of the vehicles has also been fundamentally different for the first time in almost 40 years.
Drop the weight
Like many others, Verstappen is bothered by the heavy weight of the cars. With 798 kilograms including the driver and 110 kilograms of fuel on board, the cars now weigh over 900 kilograms at the start of the race. Verstappen calls for a rethink and is likely to open doors. The question is how.
“Of course, the safety requirements have to be increased. That’s why the cars are getting heavier and heavier, to strengthen the chassis and all those things. That’s of course partly responsible. We can’t go back to 500 or 550 kilograms, but I think we’re a lot too at the moment are heavy.” Much of the weight is due to the drive units introduced in 2014.
Max Verstappen also doesn’t think much of the 18-inch wheels that were introduced in 2022: “With these big tires you can’t see the apex in the corners. I like the smaller tires better. It’s a lot more fun.”
And he also wants to go in a completely different direction than before on another topic: In order to reduce dependency on DRS, the cars should have more air resistance. This would make overtaking maneuvers possible using the natural slipstream.
“But with the new 26 cars, it looks as if they have much less air resistance. So overtaking will be even more difficult,” the Dutchman is disappointed.
Shock after driving the simulator in the 2026 car
In general, all simulator test drives with the 2026 concept have so far been rather disappointing. Due to the stronger electric boost and the lower output of the combustion engine, it can happen that the cars slow down when the boost is switched off and that you have to downshift in the middle of the straight.
“In my opinion it’s just not right to have to drive a car like that,” comments Vertappen. “And when you’re braking, you literally keep your foot on the gas. I think that’s going to create a very strange atmosphere.”
“It’s a bit like with the blown diffusers, you just keep your foot on the gas. It just looks very strange to me. And also the active aerodynamics, which regulate themselves. It all seems strange to me. I think that everything gets too complicated. We have to look at it from the engine side in particular”.