Red Bull's Max Verstappen has downplayed the recent Formula 1 rule changes as merely 'a tickle,' suggesting they fall short of addressing drivers' deeper concerns about the new racing style. Speaking ahead of the Miami Grand Prix, Verstappen reiterated that the technical tweaks are insufficient to make the cars truly flat-out, though he hopes for more substantial changes next year.
In contrast, Mercedes' George Russell described the adjustments as 'good,' while McLaren's Lando Norris acknowledged that drivers 'have to be happy' with the progress made. The modifications aim to improve qualifying by reducing the need for coasting and to mitigate dangerous closing speeds during races.
The new regulations, which introduce a near 50-50 split between internal combustion and electrical power, have forced drivers to manage energy carefully—often lifting off early to recharge batteries. Verstappen has previously compared the 2026 cars to Mario Kart and labeled them 'Formula E on steroids.'
Norris noted that while qualifying should feel more like a flat-out lap, the race experience may not change drastically. He added that future improvements likely require hardware changes to the engine's power ratio, a view shared by team principals Andrea Stella and Laurent Mekies.