Max Verstappen makes demands clear to FIA after F1 star threatened to quit | F1 | Sport

Max Verstappen has implored the FIA to ‘make changes’ to the current regulations before the start of the 2027 season. The four-time world champion hasn’t been afraid to criticise the new generation of F1 cars, believing they have sucked the fun out of racing. He has repeatedly stated that he wouldn’t hesitate to walk away from the grid if he stops enjoying himself.

Ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix, the FIA announced that drivers will be forced to save less energy in qualifying, allowing them to push harder over an entire lap. The rule tweak, which won’t apply this weekend, means drivers will only be allowed to harvest eight megajoules in a qualifying lap instead of the previous nine.

Verstappen sees the move as a step in the right direction but has called for more sweeping changes to be made ahead of next season.

“Going to eight megajoules probably helps a tiny bit but the basics are the same, so you still need to be careful also with your throttle inputs,” said the Dutchman.

“That is of course very different to the past. This is the reality that we’re in now and you just have to accept that at the moment. There’s not much that you can do anyway for this year. I hope that bigger changes will be there for next year.”

Verstappen, who finished sixth at the Australian Grand Prix before retiring from the Chinese Grand Prix, has repeatedly threatened to quit F1 in recent years.

The widespread regulation changes introduced for 2026 haven’t gone down well with the 28-year-old, who sent a pointed message to F1 chiefs after the season opener in Melbourne.

He said: “I love racing, but you can only take so much, right? I think they’re willing to listen, the FIA and F1, but I just hope there is some action. I’m not the only one saying it.

“A lot of people are saying the same, be it the drivers or the fans. We just want the best for the sport. It’s not that we are critical, just to be critical.

“We are critical for a reason. We want it to be Formula One, you know, proper Formula One on steroids, but today, again, that was not the case.”

Regarding his dislike for the new regulations, Verstappen added: “I think what they should worry about are the rules. They ask questions, and I give my opinion of what I would like to see and what I think is better for the sport, because I do care about it.

“I do love racing, and I want it to be better than this, so let’s see what we can do. I hope that even during this year, we can come up with some different solutions so it becomes more enjoyable for everyone.”

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