‘F1 is broken’: mistrust among drivers blocks solution to new car problems

Max Verstappen is clearly not enjoying driving the new generation of Formula 1 cars. In the paddock, the Dutchman is the driver who speaks out most forcefully against the regulations. 'It’s will be a long season,' the four-time world champion said after qualifying in Australia.

After the Australian Grand Prix, Verstappen did want to clarify that he cares about F1. He’s not doing it just to be critical; he hopes his honesty will actually help move Formula 1 forward. He wants the racing to be better and for drivers to enjoy it again.

Verstappen is certainly not the only one. After Verstappen, Lando Norris is also speaking out strongly about the cars. It was even worse in the Grand Prix than it was on Saturday in qualifying, the Brit judged after the race.

Yet there’s also a shift. Drivers seem to be speaking out less and less. It’s a result of the teams and their PR departments doing everything they can to avoid pushing only negative stories about F1. F1, the FIA, and the teams are understandably afraid that this will only make fans turn away from the sport faster.

And so the hope is to look for a solution to the current problems behind the scenes. It was also the reason the drivers sat down with the FIA in the drivers’ briefing. GPblog understood that, prior to this meeting, it was clearly stated that the discussion about the cars had to remain confidential so everyone would feel free to speak their minds. However, it did not remain confidential.

Several drivers spoke negatively about the cars, but it was mainly Verstappen’s quotes that still made their way to various media. Verstappen expressed his enormous displeasure about it, and behind the scenes in Australia, GPblog also heard frustration about the leak from multiple sides.

The snitch not only led to comments being made public, but, more importantly, to mutual distrust. At a time when F1, the FIA, and the drivers are hoping to find a solution together, it certainly doesn’t help if people leak information to stir up unrest. The result is that in the next briefing, drivers won’t dare to speak out, and no solution will be found to the problem.

The race itself may have been better than expected. The start and the fight between the Mercedes and Ferraris were especially exciting, but was that fun because the action was good, or was it entertainment born of chaos? Most drivers point to the latter.

The opening laps were tense because of the electrical systems. Overtaking no longer means you simply keep the position. Your battery is depleted, and the driver you passed can easily re-overtake you.

Many teams and drivers are still figuring out how best to execute that. After a few races, however, there will be enough data to deploy the electrical systems in the most efficient way. Then the racing will likely resemble the second half of the Australian GP: a procession.

There won’t be a short-term solution, but Verstappen did indicate he sees possibilities. For that, F1, the FIA, teams, and drivers will need to trust one another to find the best possible solution to the current problem together. An ideal moment for this is the gap that will arise with the cancellation of the Grands Prix in the Middle East. Then data from three Grands Prix can be reviewed to arrive at a better formula. Whether all stakeholders truly put the interests of Formula 1 first, however, remains to be seen.