US EditionVerstappen Jokes New F1 Cars 'More Like Mario Kart'
Max Verstappen criticizes 2026 F1 car features like battery management and boost buttons, describing them as video game-like, but confirms he plans to continue racing.
- Four-Time world champion Max Verstappen joked Thursday he is practicing for Formula One with "Mario Kart" due to dissatisfaction with the new car regulations, though he insisted he does not "want to leave" the sport.
- The Red Bull driver remains critical of the technical regulations, which mandate a 50-50 split between conventional and electrical power; Verstappen has been outspoken since the regulation changes.
- "I swapped the simulator for my Nintendo Switch," Verstappen said, adding he is "practicing with Mario Kart." The Dutchman announced he will drive in the Nurburgring 24-hour race this year.
- Verstappen confirmed he has held discussions with FOM and the FIA regarding potential regulatory tweaks, adding, "I don't want to leave, but I also hope of course that it gets better."
- F1 boss Stefano Domenicali expressed confidence Verstappen will remain despite frustrations with the sport; his Red Bull contract runs through 2028, and he confirmed leaving is not in his plans.
19 Articles
19 Articles
The four-time world champion of F1 is not a supporter of the new technical regulations of 2026.
Max Verstappen, four times a world champion, said on this Thursday that it is not much fun to pilot the new cars of Formula 1. The Dutch pilot, including, played by comparing cars with the famous videogame Mario Kart. With the new F1 regulation introduced in 2026, pilots need to administer the use of electrical batteries, which provide extra power for a few seconds, but leave vulnerable cars during the recharge period. The cars also have resourc…
Max Verstappen jokes new F1 cars 'more like Mario Kart'
Four-time world champion Max Verstappen said Thursday he was not having much fun driving the new era of Formula One cars, joking he was “practicing with Mario Kart” because it was more realistic than his simulator. The Red Bull driver crashed in qualifying in the season-opener in Australia last weekend before having to carve his way from 20th on the grid to finish a creditable sixth. The new cars require battery management and energy harvesting …
Radio France Internationale
France24Verstappen jokes new F1 cars 'more like Mario Kart'
Four-time world champion Max Verstappen said Thursday he was not having much fun driving the new era of Formula One cars, joking he was "practising with Mario Kart" because it was more realistic than…
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