Verstappen Considers Leaving F1 Amid Frustration with New Regulations

Four-time champion Max Verstappen expresses growing discontent with the 2026 technical changes that emphasize battery power and energy harvesting.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 1:05pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Four-time Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen is openly considering stepping away from the sport due to his mounting frustration with the new technical regulations implemented ahead of the 2026 season. Verstappen has expressed dissatisfaction with the changes that prioritize battery power and energy harvesting, saying he is no longer enjoying the way he has to race and that it feels "anti-driving." The Red Bull driver has turned to other racing series like GT3 to find more enjoyment, raising questions about his long-term future in F1.

Why it matters

Verstappen's potential departure would be a major blow to Formula 1, as the Dutch driver is one of the sport's biggest stars and most dominant champions of the modern era. His discontent with the new regulations highlights the challenges F1 faces in balancing technological innovation with driver satisfaction and the sport's traditional high-revving, fuel-efficient racing experience.

The details

The new 2026 F1 technical regulations place a greater emphasis on battery power and energy harvesting, requiring drivers to change their approach, including harvesting energy in high-speed corners during qualifying. Verstappen has been vocal in his criticism of these changes, going as far as to compare the current state of racing to the video game Mario Kart. His frustration reached a boiling point after an eighth-place finish at the Japanese Grand Prix, where he openly questioned whether continuing in F1 is "worth it."

  • Verstappen finished eighth at the Japanese Grand Prix on March 28, 2026.
  • Verstappen competed in a GT3 race at the Nürburgring in Germany the weekend prior to the Japanese GP.

The players

Max Verstappen

A four-time Formula 1 Drivers' Champion who is openly considering stepping away from the sport due to his frustration with the new 2026 technical regulations.

Charles Leclerc

A rival F1 driver who has also expressed frustration with the new regulations.

Lando Norris

A rival F1 driver who has also expressed frustration with the new regulations.

Lewis Hamilton

A seven-time F1 champion who has praised the new regulations as providing the "best form of racing."

Erik van Haren

A Dutch journalist and expert on all things Verstappen.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“That's what I'm saying, I'm thinking about everything inside this paddock.”

— Max Verstappen, F1 Driver

“Privately I'm very happy. You also wait for 24 races. This time it's 22. But normally 24. And then you just think about is it worth it? Or do I enjoy being more at home with my family? Seeing my friends more when you're not enjoying your sport?”

— Max Verstappen, F1 Driver

“Of course I try to adapt to it, but it's not nice the way you have to race. It's really anti-driving. Then at one point, yeah, it's just not what I want to do.”

— Max Verstappen, F1 Driver

“Now I think I'm committing 100 per cent and I'm still trying, but the way that I am telling myself to give it 100 per cent I think is not very healthy at the moment because I am not enjoying what I'm doing.”

— Max Verstappen, F1 Driver

What’s next

The upcoming Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities (ADUO) will allow power unit manufacturers that are lagging behind the highest-performing power unit on the grid additional development opportunities this season and next, potentially improving the state of play in F1 to Verstappen's liking. Whether that will be enough to keep him on the grid beyond 2026 remains to be seen.

The takeaway

Verstappen's growing frustration with the new F1 regulations highlights the delicate balance the sport must strike between technological innovation and driver satisfaction. His potential departure would be a major blow, underscoring the challenges F1 faces in appealing to its biggest stars while also evolving the sport for the future.