Driver hits back at Verstappen’s flippant remarks

The F1 technical regulations that were introduced at the start of the 2026 season have sparked wide spread controversy across the Formula 1 paddock. Whilst some drivers have relished the changes, others have been highly critical of the direction the series is heading as it uses more battery power.

Multiple drivers, including four-time world champion Verstappen and Mercedes driver George Russell, have drawn a comparison between this new era of Formula 1 and Formula E, the all electric FIA World Championship. Verstappen stated the new regulations turned F1 'into Formula E on steroids', whilst Russell said it wasn't as bad as he expected it to be.

Morata, who has been racing in Formula E since 2017 and can, to some degree, agree with some of the criticism regarding Formula 1's new regulations. He believes the new rulebook is too difficult to follow. “It’s actually very difficult to speak about the comparison, because I'm not really familiar with the rules that they've introduced this year in Formula 1", Mortara admitted in an exclusive interview with GPblog. “ I must say that some of them feel quite complex to follow - what has been introduced, what they can do, what they can't do."

According to the Mahindra driver, Formula 1 has become a bit more like Formula E this year. However, he doesn't think the similarities are as big as some might be inclined to think. "In my opinion, it's still two different sports. Clearly, you now have some more energy management to do during the races. So that's probably making the drivers have to adapt to some situations that they probably weren't facing before. But it's also kind of bringing more overtakes."

Mortara stresses that we shouldn’t forget that the concept of a hybrid system in F1 isn’t something new, but something that's been done for years. The difference is that the percentage of the electric component has increased in comparison to previous seasons. “What we are doing here [in Formula E] - I think it's still quite different. Our car is fully, fully, fully electric. We have to deal with our problems, like they have to deal with their own.

In the fall out, Verstappen has been very critical about the new generation of Formula 1 cars. At the Japanese GP, the Dutchman warned that he might leave F1 if things continue on the same path. The Red Bull driver seems to have lost his love of racing in Formula 1 as a result of the new rules.

Although Mortara is a professional driver, he considers himself an ordinary viewer when it comes to Formula 1. And from that perspective, he’s fairly positive about the new regulations. “I think it's actually not such a bad thing for the spectators, because you've got quite some overtakes."