– Formula 1 has made initial adjustments to the controversial 2026 regulations for the Miami race weekend. But for former world champion Max Verstappen, these corrections fall far too short. In a candid analysis, he makes it clear that the sport would be a better product today if the expertise from the cockpit had not been ignored for years.
Read more Lance Stroll: «Sad» about the direction the sport has developed in
“I think if we had this [input] five years ago – or maybe a bit earlier, about five, six years ago – we probably wouldn’t be in the state we are now,” the Dutchman emphasized on Thursday before Miami.
For him, the current situation is a direct result of sacrificing the drivers’ instinct in favor of political and technical compromises. That there is now at least a dialogue with the FIA and Formula 1, he counts only as damage control: “I just hope it’s a lesson for the future.”
Photo series: Formula 1 fails: These rule changes were a flop
Verstappen does not accept the argument that Formula 1 is technically too complex for the pure view of the drivers. On the contrary: he sees the drivers as the true guardians of what the fans want to see.
“I do believe that most drivers here have a good understanding and a good feel for what is necessary to make Formula 1 a good, fun product,” said the Red Bull driver.
This sense for the “product” has receded into the background in recent years, while engineers and strategists took over the reins. Although he rates the recent talks with those responsible positively, the path to a truly driver-oriented sport is still long: “I think that is already a huge step forward in terms of communication.”
“Just a gentle tickle” instead of real change
When asked about the concrete changes in Miami, which are supposed to bring qualifying back to the limit, the champion reacted almost mockingly. He has already tested the new parameters in the simulator, but there was no wow effect.
Read more Hardware, vibrations, drivability: The big Aston Martin repair near Miami
Formula 1 before restart: Is better racing coming now?
“As I said, it’s a tickle,” he describes the nuances of the rule change. “It’s not yet what we need to really drive completely at the limit again.”
Verstappen knows the mills of Formula 1 bureaucracy, which make radical leaps almost impossible: “At the end of the day, Formula 1 is a very complex and political sport. But I think everyone has done their best to at least do something – but of course it won’t change the world.”
Legacy for the future
What can be noted: Verstappen’s demand for more say is not pure self-interest. He is already looking ahead to the time after his active career and wants to ensure that his successors start in a better environment.
“Even if I might not be here in a few years, I really hope, also for the future drivers, that there will generally be more input from the drivers to the organizers.”
For him, Miami is only a first, cautious test balloon. The real test will be next year when the regulations for 2027 are finalized. Verstappen’s expectations are clearly defined: “I just hope that really big, radical changes can be made for next year.”
Read more Fernando Alonso: Must make a decision for 2027 in the summer
