F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali Reacts to Max Verstappen’s Criticism Of 2026 Regulations

Q: What did Max Verstappen say about the 2026 F1 regulations?

Max Verstappen criticized the 2026 regulations, stating he would prefer to spend time with his family rather than continue racing under the new rules.

Q: How do the new 2026 regulations affect F1 car performance?

The new regulations require drivers to manage power from both internal combustion engines and batteries, leading to performance struggles for teams like Williams, Red Bull, and Aston Martin.

Q: What safety concerns have arisen from the new F1 regulations?

Drivers have raised serious safety concerns following incidents like Bearman's 50G crash, which highlighted the speed differences between cars under the new regulations.

Q: What is Stefano Domenicali's response to Verstappen's comments?

Stefano Domenicali emphasized the importance of Verstappen's words and acknowledged that they can sometimes be misinterpreted.

Formula One CEO Stefano Domenicali has spoken about his interaction with Red Bull driver Max Verstappen regarding 2026 regulations and emphasized that a four-time world champion’s words carry significant weight, which can sometimes be taken the wrong way.

Verstappen has not held back from voicing his dislike of the new regulations on several occasions, even going to the extent of saying he would rather spend time with his family than continue racing for the remainder of the season.

The biggest problem for most F1 drivers is the nature of the new cars, which are powered equally by an internal combustion engine and energy derived from batteries. During a race, drivers need to lift off and depend on super clipping to harvest electrical energy, which means slowing down in areas where they would have otherwise driven flat out.

The new regulations have also caused several teams to struggle with performance, such as Williams, Red Bull, and Aston Martin. In addition, drivers also raised serious safety concerns after Bearman’s 50G crash in Suzuka, which was a result of the speed difference between his car and Franco Colapinto’s Alpine that he was chasing.

F1 CEO Asks Drivers To Look At The Bigger Picture

In an interview with Motorsport.com, Domenicali has opened up about his conversation with Verstappen, revealing that he understands his comments, but also highlights that Verstappen needs to respect the title of being a multiple-world champion. The F1 CEO said:

“I think that with Max, we have spoken many, many times since the beginning. So we understand that I understand his comments and he understands the bigger picture. Even today he has been in a meeting where he was very keen to give suggestions. So, you know, I don’t want to fall into the trap of trying to create an antagonism because that’s not me. It’s not the way that we want to see that.

“So we’re going to be together. He’s the best driver, he’s a world champion, multiple world champion, and of course, his voice has to be listened to. But of course, he knows that his voice also has a weight. And he needs to respect that weight [because] sometimes some people can take it the wrong way. And this is something that we should not allow to happen.”

Domenicali believes that the racing spectacle has been good so far, and despite the challenges, he asks drivers to look at the broader perspective. He said:

“I think that the racing is very, very good. And the more we talk together, the better it is for the sport. Because they are – and I say this because I’m old but I don’t forget what I’m saying – the jewel of our sport. So we need to protect that jewel of our sport, as well as they have to protect the ecosystem which they are in.”