Max Verstappen has been heavily critical of the 2026 regulations changes, and pressure from him and fellow drivers has led to adjustments for 2027.

Verstappen sent numerous warnings about the new rules when they were first tabled back in 2023. He was concerned about the battery and the increased reliance on electrification in the power unit – those have been vindicated in 2026.

Super clipping during qualifying and races, as well as a software issue in the wet weather in Malaysia that caused several cars to grind to a halt, are just some examples of how the regulations have frustrated drivers and fans.

For the four-time champion, it has been particularly challenging, as Red Bull’s ‘Macarena’ wing was causing several crashes and DNFs. The team have since found a fix, with Verstappen scoring eight podiums in the last nine races, but he is still loathing the regulations.

Lance Stroll says 2027 F1 cars are ‘nicer to drive’ and ‘more normal’

Verstappen says the 2026 cars rely less on driver input, which explained why Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda were ‘immediately competitive’ when they stepped into the Red Bull and Racing Bulls, respectively, after Isack Hadjar’s hand injury.

Lawson disagreed with the Dutchman’s take, but Verstappen doubled down, saying that the current cars do not reward fast drivers. He will stay in F1 until at least 2030 after signing a new contract with Red Bull, but he wants to see changes.

In 2027, following a wave of criticism, F1 will make adjustments to the power unit, which will see a shift to a 58/42 split of internal combustion and electrical power. It is a step in the right direction, as Lance Stroll alluded to.

The Aston Martin driver spoke to the media at the Mexico City GP about the 2027 cars, and according to ‘whispers in the F1 paddock’, they are ‘nicer to drive’.

“When he spoke to us, he did say that, from the whispers in the F1 paddock, next year’s cars are nicer to drive. He said he hadn’t tried it on the sim, which I think is contrary to what Mike Krack had said recently that Stroll had tried it on the sim.

“But from what he’s heard from other drivers, there’s a bit of excitement that the cars are moving back to being a bit more normal.”

This will be music to the ears of Verstappen. While the battery will still play a part in performance next year, the extra reliance on the ICE will certainly be more favourable for the drivers, especially the Red Bull driver.

Verstappen may have to wait until the proposed V8 engines come to F1 in 2030 to find a car that he is properly comfortable with. But until then, it seems that he and his fellow drivers will have cars that are much easier to handle and do not produce as much artificial overtaking.