– Formula 1 star Max Verstappen seems to be loosening his stance on Formula E. According to Jaguar driver Antonio Felix da Costa, the Dutchman likes the upcoming Gen4 car of the series.
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After the official unveiling of the Gen4 car at the end of last month in Le Castellet, Verstappen shared his reaction in a text message with his friend Felix da Costa. “He liked it,” the Portuguese revealed to Motorsport.com. “He was very critical of the Gen3, but he was satisfied with the Gen4.”
When asked if Verstappen would be interested in a test following an invitation from Formula E CEO Jeff Dodds in February, da Costa added: “You have to ask him.”
Verstappen was long considered an old-school driver and had shown little interest in electric racing so far. His earlier statement that the Formula 1 regulations for 2026 would turn the premier class into a “Formula E on steroids” was widely interpreted as a dig at the electric series.
Formula E is facing a comprehensive overhaul that could revolutionize the championship and make it more attractive to drivers. With an 800 hp powertrain, permanent all-wheel drive, and an active differential, the Gen4 car is expected to improve lap times by up to ten seconds. This could elevate Formula E to the second fastest category behind Formula 1.
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The officials of Formula E welcomed the comments from the world champion, as the series continues to struggle for acceptance among traditional motorsport fans. Alberto Longo, commercial director of Formula E, said: “He spoke with one of the drivers in Formula E, Antonio Felix da Costa. And he said something like: ‘It’s cool,’ which we take at face value.”
The Gen4 car will be introduced in the 13th season, which is expected to start in December and include up to 19 races. Manufacturers have already begun building and testing their powertrains. Felix Da Costa, who won the title with DS-Penske in 2019/20, describes the new package as a huge step.
“I haven’t done much with it yet, but I had the opportunity to drive it a bit, and it’s obviously a very exciting thing,” he said. “More power, a bigger car, more grip, and the technology of the whole car is a huge leap. The way we have to tune it both software-wise and mechanically will be a massive challenge for the drivers and the teams.”
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