Max Verstappen has urged Formula 1 to introduce major changes to its upcoming 2027 regulations, saying current adjustments to the 2026 rules are only a “tickle” and not enough to improve racing.
Max Verstappen has intensified his criticism of Formula 1’s new regulatory direction, calling for “really big” changes to the sport’s power unit rules set for 2027.
The four-time world champion says the latest tweaks introduced for the Miami Grand Prix are too minor to address the fundamental issues he sees with the current hybrid era.
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“It’s a tickle”: Verstappen dismisses Miami changes
Speaking ahead of the Miami weekend, Verstappen said the modifications made by the FIA were minimal in impact. “I guess it’s a tickle,” he said. “It’s not what we need yet to really make it flat out.”
The changes for Miami include adjustments to how much electrical energy can be harvested during qualifying and how quickly it can be recovered on straights. These measures are intended to reduce extreme energy-management driving styles that have emerged under the 2026 regulations.
However, Verstappen remains unconvinced that such fine-tuning will improve the racing experience. He argued that only more substantial revisions would meaningfully address the problems drivers have raised.
“It needs to be more than a tickle for next year, that’s for sure,” he added, stressing that deeper structural changes are required rather than incremental updates.
Criticism of 2026 rules and “anti-racing” concerns
The Red Bull driver has been one of the most vocal critics of the 2026 rules package, which introduces a more even split between combustion and electric power and places greater emphasis on energy recovery and deployment. He has previously described aspects of the system as feeling “anti-racing”, arguing that it shifts focus away from traditional driving skill.
Despite his criticism, Verstappen acknowledged that discussions between drivers, Formula 1 and the FIA have improved in recent months. He said recent meetings represented a “starting point” for better communication in future regulation cycles.
“I think that’s already a huge step forward in terms of communication,” he said, while also stressing that drivers should have had more input earlier in the design process of the current rules.
Calls for earlier driver involvement
Looking ahead, Verstappen said he still hopes for major improvements to the sport’s technical direction. He suggested that earlier consultation with drivers could have prevented some of the current complexities in the regulations.
“I’m sure that we can have really good input,” he said, adding that better collaboration in earlier years might have avoided some of the present challenges.
Future in Formula 1 still open
Despite ongoing speculation about his long-term future in Formula 1, Verstappen said his position remains unchanged. He confirmed he is still evaluating his career options beyond 2026 but has made no decision regarding retirement or departure from the sport.
He also dismissed suggestions that internal changes at Red Bull, including the planned departure of his long-time race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase in 2028, would influence his future plans.
Published: 01 May 2026, 09:11 pm IST
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