Overview
- Max Verstappen denounced the new format as "terrible" and "not racing," likening the battery-boost duels to "Mario Kart."
- He warned the approach "will come back and bite them" and could "ruin the sport" without swift changes.
- Verstappen retired from the Chinese Grand Prix with an ERS coolant fault after finishing ninth in the sprint, leaving Red Bull to protect its hardware.
- He said discussions are ongoing with F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali on the direction of the 2026 package, which features a roughly 50‑50 combustion‑electric split.
- Verstappen claimed most drivers share his concerns, while teams benefitting from early gains resist rapid tweaks, with Mercedes taking the first two race wins.