Andretti rejects Verstappen's 2026 criticism: ‘Used to having things go his way’
Photo: Red Bull Content Pool
Henry Eccles is a freelance Formula 1 journalist for GPblog, covering breaking news, live race blogs, and features across the F1 calendar. Since joining in 2026, he has produced high-volume reporting on the sport’s biggest stories, alongside feature pieces including analysis and historical content.
1978 F1 world champion Mario Andretti has pushed back against driver complaints over the 2026 regulations, suggesting Max Verstappen will just have to deal with the hand he's been dealt and "make the best of it."
Verstappen has been the most vocal critic of F1's new rules, telling media, including GPblog, at the Chinese GP: "It's not fun at all, no. It's playing Mario Kart. This is not racing."
For Andretti, however, Verstappen is not "having as much fun as he would like to" because he is "used to being up front."
Verstappen 'used to having things go his way,' says Andretti
Photo: Race Pictures
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Speaking to the Drive to Wynn podcast, Andretti shared his thoughts on the 2026 regulations, and reflected on the comments from Verstappen, who he claims is also used to "having things pretty much going his way."
Andretti said: "There are many aspects overall that are positive. Not everything is negative, so to speak.
"Max says that, obviously, the teams that have embraced this thing, that don’t have the issues that they have, are quite happy.
“But you know, the likes of Max, he’s used to being up front, and having things pretty much going his way, and so he’s not having as much fun as he would like to right now.
“But, you’re going to have some of that. It’s up to everyone to just deal with whatever hand that they’re dealt and make the best of it.”
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In light of Verstappen's clear frustration with the 2026 cars, Andretti then offered his insights into where drivers get their satisfaction from.
"Obviously, the joy of driving is to have equipment under you that’s capable, and then extract the maximum out of it. As much as things change, all of the satisfactions that you’re looking for are basically the same.
"So just totally trying to understand everything that you need to be able to do a better job than the guy next to you.
"So all of it is, again, I repeat, as much as things change, still, they remain the same in that respect.”
Ex-F1 driver argues Verstappen needs to 'shut up and drive'
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Meanwhile, others have more heavily criticised Verstappen's outbursts over the 2026 regulations.
Speaking on the Stay On Track podcast, former F1 driver Johnny Herbert agreed with Damon Hill's idea that Verstappen needs to 'shut up and drive' but said that diplomacy was not exactly the Dutchman's strength.
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