Verstappen notably positive about new F1 rule changes

The debate over the future engine regulations has been ongoing for some time. Since the introduction of the new generation of power units, criticism from drivers about the large share of electrical energy has grown. It has often been said that the cars feel unnatural, that drivers are too focused on energy management, and that racing has become less pure.

Verstappen had already hinted that the sport's direction is important to his future in Formula 1. In Canada, he made it clear to, among others, GPblog that the proposed adjustment for 2027 plays a key role in that. “It's definitely heading in a very positive direction. It's the minimum I was hoping for, and it's really nice that that's what they want to do. That's definitely what I think the sport needs."

Verstappen again emphasises that for him, it’s not about having the fastest car, but about how Formula 1 cars feel and how racing is done. He believes the ‘product’ needs to be better—something he thinks these changes will genuinely help. “I just want a good product in Formula One, and that will for sure improve the product."

The four-time world champion points out that he has previously said his future partly depended on the upcoming regulations. According to Verstappen, next year’s adjustments will make a big difference: “I've always said it doesn't matter if I had a good car or not, it's just a product, and I think the product will improve like that, so naturally I think then the enjoyment will go up as well."

Red Bull Racing teammate Isack Hadjar also sees the proposed change as a necessary step. The Frenchman calls it a huge leap forward and mainly hopes the plans will be finalised.

Fernando Alonso has mixed feelings. The two-time world champion understands why the sport once fully embraced electrification, but he believes that Formula 1 lost something fundamental along the way. According to Alonso, the core problem remains as long as the philosophy behind the engines stays the same.

“The DNA of these power units will always be the same, and it will always reward going slow in the corners,” says the Aston Martin driver. The Spaniard argues that motorsport could never be fully compared with the direction taken by the regular automotive world. While manufacturers increasingly shifted towards electric, Formula 1, in his view, lost part of its character. “Unfortunately, we have this period from 2014 with the turbo year, and now even more, that we lost a little bit of nearly one decade or even more of pure racing.”

Liam Lawson also doubts, after a question from GPblog, whether the changes will ultimately be big enough. The New Zealander calls every step forward positive but thinks the issues run deeper than just the split between electric power and the internal combustion engine. According to Lawson, drivers mainly want cars that feel aggressive, allow them to push constantly, and sound more like traditional Formula 1 again. That, he says, is the image many current drivers grew up with.

Lawson also believes the cars still fall short in other areas. He points out that a lot of downforce has been lost nowadays to partly compensate for the lack of battery power. As a result, he expects that even this new direction will not fully resolve what drivers are missing.

Carlos Sainz largely agrees with that criticism. The Spaniard says it’s especially important for Formula 1 to return to what he describes as a ‘real’ Formula 1 engine. In his view, it should again be possible in the sport to go flat out almost everywhere, without constantly worrying about battery usage and energy saving.

Sainz notes that, according to many drivers, the current generation of cars has taken away part of the essence of racing. Drivers want to attack, feel speed, and hear loud engines. He therefore clearly sees more emphasis on the internal combustion engine as an improvement. Still, Sainz also thinks that drivers will ultimately always want more.

According to the Williams driver, many racers used to prefer seeing the electric component as an addition to a strong engine, rather than an essential part that the entire driving behavior depends on. The Spaniard therefore expects the debate to continue for the time being, even if the proposed changes are actually implemented.