MELBOURNE WARNING: MAX SAYS FANS WILL SEE "UNNATURAL" LIFT-AND-COAST DURING THE AUSTRALIAN OPENER
Max Verstappen calls 2026 F1 rules "anti-racing." Discover why he thinks the new engines feel like Formula E on steroids.
Max Verstappen isn’t letting up on his criticism of the new 2026 Formula 1 rules. He says F1 needs to “stay away” from turning into Formula E.
Last week in Bahrain, Verstappen really stirred things up during pre-season testing. He called the new rules “anti-racing” and basically said the series is turning into “Formula E on steroids".
Here’s what’s going on: the next generation of F1 engines will rely way more on electrical power, almost a 50-50 split with the combustion engine. So, battery management is about to become a huge part of racing, not just a side thing.
What does that actually mean? Well, drivers might have to downshift even on the straights just to save energy. That’s a move straight out of Formula E, where drivers sometimes drop back on purpose to save battery and then attack late in the race.
Verstappen wants none of it. When someone asked him if F1 might start attracting more Formula E drivers because of all this battery management or even become a feeder series for the all-electric championship, he didn’t hold back. “Well, let’s hope not,” he said.
He clarified he’s not against the drivers. “There are a lot of good drivers in Formula E who could do well here,” Verstappen said. “But I don’t want F1 to get close to Formula E.”
He was pretty blunt about what he wants: “I want us to actually stay away from that and be Formula 1. So don’t add more battery. Actually, get rid of that and focus on a proper engine. Let Formula E be Formula E, because that’s their thing.”
He’s seen the new Gen4 Formula E car, and he thinks it looks cool. “But let them be Formula E, and we should stick to Formula 1. Let’s not mix them up.”
Verstappen isn’t the only one talking about the 2026 rules. They’ve really split opinions. Lando Norris, last year’s world champion, said the new cars are “a lot of fun".
When someone asked Verstappen if he got any pushback from the authorities for speaking out, he just shrugged it off. “I’m just sharing my opinion,” he said. “We have free speech. That’s how I feel. Not everyone has to agree, and honestly, it doesn’t really matter what other people say. I got a question, and I answered it.
“I think I’m allowed to do that. So it’s not about pushback or anything.”
HEALTH CRISIS: ALONSO FACES EARLY RETIREMENT AS NERVE DAMAGE RISK SHAKES ASTON MARTIN PROJECT
Fernando Alonso faces a shock mid-season retirement as Adrian Newey warns of permanent nerve damage from Honda vibrations.
There’s talk that Fernando Alonso could get pushed to retire from Formula 1 before the season’s even over, all thanks to some pretty serious pain in his neck and left wrist. That’s according to a journalist who’s been following the situation closely.
Alonso turns 45 this June, and he’s now in his fifth year with Aston Martin. But things aren’t going smoothly. Right now, the team can’t even finish a full race because their Honda power unit shakes so much that it’s messing up Alonso’s and Lance Stroll’s wrists.
Adrian Newey, who runs the team and handles their technical direction, didn’t sugarcoat it back in Australia. He said those vibrations are bad enough to risk permanent nerve damage if the drivers stay out too long. Alonso’s limited to 25 laps in a row, and Stroll’s even worse off; he can only handle 15.
Race day in Melbourne turned out to be a bit better, at least for Stroll. He managed 43 out of 58 laps before heading back to the garage. But he only got to race after missing qualifying because of an engine problem.
Alonso had a wild start, jumping up seven spots to 10th place on the first lap using soft tyres, but he dropped back later. He came into the garage twice during the race. The team thought he’d have to retire early, but they got him back out there, only for another problem to stop him for good. Twenty-one laps, and that was it for Alonso in Melbourne.
Even so, Alonso’s still talking positively about the rest of the 2026 season, though he admits fixing the car really depends on Honda.
But on Radio Marca’s ‘La Tribu', Spanish journalist Emilio Perez de Rozas said Alonso is struggling with “significant discomfort” in the car. He even suggested doctors might tell him to retire during the season. Perez de Rozas didn’t mince words: “The project is currently an absolute fiasco. We’ll see if they recommend he stop and if he might retire.”
SPORTbible reached out to Alonso’s management, A14 Management, for a statement.
After the Australian Grand Prix, Alonso said he expects Aston Martin’s problems to be just as bad at the next race in China, and he explained that the team needs more time to figure things out. “It’s not the best feeling driving with this level of vibrations,” he said. Honda thinks they’ve reduced battery vibrations since Bahrain by making some changes, but the chassis hasn’t improved; they still need to isolate the battery differently. Alonso said it’ll take a bit longer, but they’re doing all they can, putting in as many laps as possible to help the team.
CHECO RETURNS: SERGIO PEREZ OFFICIALLY DEBUTS FOR CADILLAC AT THE 2026 AUSTRALIAN GP
A new era for Checo: Get the report on Perez’s Red Bull exit, his year away, and his partnership with Bottas at Cadillac Racing.
Sergio Perez looks like a new man. He’s back in Formula 1 after a year away, and honestly, he seems more alive than he ever was at Red Bull. Now he’s rolling with Cadillac, who are making its debut in the sport, and you can see the energy in him; he’s excited, refreshed, and just really happy to be back.
People have been talking about his age and the time he spent away from racing, but Perez isn’t worried. He believes in what Cadillac can do, and he’s clear about what he can bring to the table. Sure, his pre-season testing didn’t exactly blow anyone away, but that’s not stopping him. After a rough stint at Red Bull, he’s ready to chase success all over again.
The pressure of Red Bull is gone, and you can tell. Anthony Davidson noticed it too. On Ted Kravitz’s Melbourne Podbook, Davidson mentioned seeing Perez smile in a way he hadn’t since before Red Bull. That says a lot. The Red Bull years really took it out of him.
Davidson said, “I haven’t seen that smile on Checo’s face in a long time. I think since before he joined Red Bull. So it’s great to see both drivers happy.” And it’s not just Perez; Rachel Brookes pointed out that his teammate, Valtteri Bottas, was also in great spirits during the media day. Bottas even joked about his championship picks, saying Fernando, Lance, and George, because, according to him, they were all sandbagging.
Brookes added that Bottas is in such a good mood now, and taking that year away really gave him a new appreciation for the sport. It’s brought out a whole new energy in him.
So here they are: Perez and Bottas, lining up for Cadillac’s first season in F1. No one’s expecting them to win a bunch of races or stand on the podium every weekend, but their job is huge. Being the first drivers for a brand-new team is a massive challenge, and they’ve got to prove that both they and Cadillac have what it takes.
Their main goal? Get points as often as possible. Perez probably feels the pressure a bit more than Bottas, but both know what’s expected of them. Cadillac wants to make a splash in its debut season, and everything depends on how Perez and Bottas perform. They’re front and centre for whatever success comes Cadillac’s way.
