Verstappen fed up with repeating 2026 car criticism: 'Driving it is already hard enough'
Photo: Race Pictures
17:01, 15 Aug
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Kada Sárközi joined GPblog as an editor ahead of the 2023 Formula 1 season. He graduated with a BA in Sports Journalism in the UK and has covered Grands Prix and other F1 events live.
Max Verstappen is fed up with repeating the same criticism of the 2026 Formula 1 cars time and time again, despite caring deeply about the sport’s product.
After finishing on the podium at the Belgian Grand Prix, the Dutchman was asked about the 2026 cars again during the post-race press conference. Then, he jokingly said: "Honestly, I don't want to sit here and complain again because probably someone will shoot me outside the door."
Speaking to GPblog, among others, the former four-time world champion addressed his comment. "No, I was joking about that one. I have spoken my mind about these regulations already for a long time. And in the beginning most people were saying, ‘he's complaining, he should shut up.’
"I have to say that the last few races more and more people are seeing the same thing that I could see coming already a long time."
The Red Bull driver continued: "It's not about me not winning anymore, it's just because I care about the product. Because I've said it many, many times. And at one point that's also enough. But of course, when people keep asking, well then, yeah, maybe it's not appreciated always."
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Verstappen has had enough of repeating himself
Verstappen also explained that driving the current cars is already hard enough, let alone having to repeat himself about what they feel like.
"I'm just speaking my mind because you see certain things coming and then sometimes people say ‘yeah but this was a great race.’ I said yeah, but it's not really realistic the way we are racing. And then you arrive to some tracks, and yeah, you're driving on not a lot of horsepower for F1 standards, and it's a little bit painful, which, yeah, I could see coming already for years.
"So it's then, of course, not the most exciting. But at one point, I'm also a little bit just fed up with repeating myself because it's already hard enough just having to drive it."
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F1-stand 2026
Season
| Pos. | Driver | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | MercedesMER | 219 | |
2 | FerrariFER | 169 | |
3 | MercedesMER | 160 | |
4 | FerrariFER | 138 | |
5 | McLarenMCL | 128 | |
6 | Red Bull RacingRBR | 109 | |
7 | McLarenMCL | 92 | |
8 | Red Bull RacingRBR | 68 | |
9 | Racing BullsRCB | 43 | |
10 | AlpineALP | 42 |
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