Max Verstappen, the undisputed king of the recent Formula 1 era, is ready to close the chapter on the ground-effect cars that have defined his dominance. With three out of his four championships, 51 victories, 35 poles, and 67 podiums under his belt, the Dutch driver is now setting his sights on the future as he prepares for the 2026 season. However, he has some strong opinions about the current regulations and the impact of these cars on the sport.
Verstappen believes that the intent behind the 2022 regulations, masterminded by Ross Brawn, has ultimately fallen short of its ambitious goals. He argues that the promise of allowing drivers to closely follow each other in dirty air has proven to be unrealistic, as the evolution of the cars has highlighted more flaws than benefits. While there may have been glimpses of success in 2022, the subsequent developments have not lived up to expectations.
In a candid reflection on his experiences with these cars, Verstappen stated, “I won’t miss these cars. At first, following others was nice, but over time it became less enjoyable. Maybe you can follow a bit better and have more control, but with the older cars, you had extreme oversteer or understeer. Now, there’s less aerodynamic load, and the slipstream doesn’t work as it used to: it’s not enough to overtake.”
His frustration is palpable as he recounts the physical toll these vehicles have taken on him. “I haven’t found them very fun to drive, and they haven’t been comfortable at all over the years; my back is breaking, and my feet always hurt. If we think about motocross, we have nothing to complain about, but I preferred the cars from 2015-2016.”
As Verstappen looks ahead to the future, it’s clear that he welcomes the challenges that lie ahead in 2026. His passion for racing remains fierce, but he is eager to leave behind a generation of cars that, while successful for him, have caused considerable discomfort and dissatisfaction. The world of Formula 1 is on the cusp of change, and Verstappen’s voice will undoubtedly be influential as the sport continues to evolve.
