Among the entire field of 22 competitors, Max Verstappen has been the most vocal critic of the forthcoming technical rules.
The reigning four-time global champion characterized these regulations as “Formula E on an enhanced scale” and revealed during an interview with Dutch journalists that there was a point last year where he deliberately avoided testing the 2026 vehicle in the simulation environment due to its extremely unsatisfactory handling.
This situation has prompted speculation that Verstappen’s passion for Formula 1 could diminish, particularly if the engine specifications proceed along this trajectory. The Dutch driver offered little resistance to this sentiment, affirming that the new regulatory framework “is not conducive” to his prolonged involvement in F1, and humorously suggested that his supporters might enjoy themselves just as much by holding a tailgate party at a different motorsport event.
Nevertheless, in response to an inquiry from Autosport, Mekies unequivocally stated that he harbors no concerns about Verstappen’s potential departure from F1.
“My succinct reply to that query is negative; there are absolutely no worries on that front,” the French individual commented as the second week of testing commenced in Bahrain.
“Indeed, I vividly remember our discussions from the previous year when he was transitioning between vehicle simulations, specifically from the ’25 to the ’26 model. And yes, the disparity was so substantial that, at a certain point, he chose, quite justifiably in my opinion, to concentrate on the ’25 iteration.”
“However, it must be acknowledged that the demands imposed by these rules are immense. They present significant hurdles for the constructors, for those producing the power units, and for the racers themselves. This situation introduces a novel dynamic for everyone involved, but it is precisely this pursuit – overcoming these obstacles, discovering novel solutions that seemed unavailable – that we relish. We intend to achieve this with the assistance of Max.”
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Mekies further opines that Verstappen is capable of ultimately leveraging the intricate nature of the 2026 regulations to his benefit. Given his reputation as one of the elite drivers who can maintain significant cognitive capacity while operating the vehicle, Mekies forecasts that Verstappen will be able to gain a competitive edge from the forthcoming innovations, despite his current reservations about them.
“I am reasonably certain that, in due course, he will probably excel at commanding these new rules, along with their complexities and nuances, just as he did with the preceding regulatory framework.”
Previously, technical director Pierre Wache conveyed that Red Bull lacks the ability to enhance Verstappen’s appreciation for the forthcoming regulations, asserting that the team based in Milton Keynes can only furnish him with a high-performing vehicle.
“My objective is not to ensure his contentment,” Wache stated. “His happiness is solely tied to race victories. My role, and the collective responsibility of the team, is to guarantee we equip him with the machinery necessary to contend for the lead positions.”
“The regulations themselves and the resulting vehicle architecture, specifically how we perceive the car’s behavior because of these rules, fall outside our immediate purview. That is a matter for the FIA. While we can contribute to those discussions, our primary objective and central focus remain improving the automobile.”
Is Red Bull Currently the Fourth-Ranked Team?
Similar to Wache, Mekies conveyed his skepticism regarding Red Bull possessing the top vehicle in the current lineup. Both the team principal and the technical head anticipate Red Bull will rank as the fourth quickest squad for the inaugural race in Melbourne.
“We face an extensive amount of development, regrettably, as we are not setting the standard,” Mekies stated. “We are highly confident that we are likely behind the leading cohort at this moment.”
Mekies identifies this group of “premier competitors” as comprising two teams utilizing Mercedes power units and Ferrari: “I will refrain from engaging in speculative predictions personally, but our assessment is that Mercedes-Benz, Ferrari, and McLaren constitute that group, and all three are presently considerably quicker than us.”
