F1 Today | Verstappen’s rant sparks Mario Kart-style trailer as Russell warned on Antonelli

The four-time world champion has emerged as one of the most outspoken critics of Formula 1’s new regulations during the opening two Grands Prix, openly expressing his disappointment with the latest generation of cars and describing the current style of racing as something closer to a video game.

In voicing his frustration, Verstappen argued that the on-track action no longer feels enjoyable, comparing it to Mario Kart and suggesting the constant back-and-forth overtaking created by energy deployment makes the racing feel artificial. According to the Dutchman, drivers simply blast past each other using electrical boost before immediately running out of battery, allowing the rival behind to return the move on the following straight — a sequence he described as little more than a joke.

His remarks even inspired French broadcaster Canal+, which leaned into the comparison by producing a Mario Kart-themed trailer for the upcoming Japanese Grand Prix — a playful nod made even more fitting by the fact that the iconic video game series was created by Japanese company Nintendo.

Former F1 driver Riccardo Patrese believes Antonelli’s performance over the weekend may have left Russell with far more to think about than before. According to the former driver, the Briton likely did not expect the young Italian to produce such a composed and complete race so early in his career.

In his view, Antonelli delivered a flawless drive, keeping everything under control from start to finish while carefully managing his tyres and avoiding mistakes. The way he handled the race also suggested he still had additional pace in reserve, even if Russell had managed to close the gap — something Patrese believes could leave the Mercedes driver slightly uneasy.

Looking at the bigger picture, Patrese also suggested the title battle currently appears to revolve around the two Mercedes drivers. Given their dominance, he finds it difficult to imagine a different outcome at this stage of the season. He also noted that if Antonelli were to start consistently outperforming Russell, the Italian could even put together a notable streak of victories.