SHANGHAI – Formula One champion Max Verstappen delivered scathing criticism of the sport’s current state following his disappointing exit from Sunday’s Chinese Grand Prix due to mechanical failure.
The four-time world champion’s Red Bull car suffered a power unit malfunction on lap 46, forcing him to slowly return to the garage and ending his race early. Verstappen finished among just 15 drivers who completed the event.
The Dutch driver has been vocal about his displeasure with F1’s current engine technology, which features enhanced electrical components and requires drivers to carefully manage energy usage throughout races.
“It’s not about being upset at where I am, because I’m actually fighting even more now,” Verstappen explained to media members. “I would say the same if I was winning races, because I care about the racing product.”
“For me, it’s a joke,” he stated bluntly, describing the current regulations as “fundamentally flawed.”
The 71-time race winner has faced unusual challenges this season, spending more time battling for minimal points rather than dominating races as he’s accustomed to doing. Following a qualifying crash at the previous weekend’s Australian Grand Prix, he started Sunday’s race from the back of the field in 20th position.
His struggles continued during Saturday’s sprint race in China, where he fell from eighth place to 14th before ultimately finishing ninth without earning championship points.
However, not everyone in the paddock shares Verstappen’s perspective on the sport’s direction. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff praised the competitive racing displayed between his drivers and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.
The Ferrari drivers also spoke positively about their on-track battles in a race that ultimately saw Kimi Antonelli claim his first F1 victory for Mercedes.
“Sometimes we are nostalgic about the good old years, but I think the product is good in itself,” Wolff commented following the race. “The vast majority, through all demographics, like the sport at the moment.”
The Austrian team boss acknowledged Verstappen’s difficult situation, saying: “Max is really in a horror show. I’m sure for someone like Max, who is a full attack guy, it’s difficult to cope and digest.”
Verstappen expressed concerns that Formula One might be sacrificing racing integrity to attract new audiences by making passing maneuvers easier.
“I hope they don’t think like that, because it will eventually ruin the sport. It will come and bite them back in the ass,” he warned. “Maybe some fans like it, but they don’t understand racing.”
