Max Verstappen continued his criticism of the self-learning algorithms of the 2026 power unit at the Hungarian GP media day in Budapest. Referring to the energy management issues raised by Oscar Piastri after the Belgian Grand Prix, the Red Bull driver stated that he has been raising this issue for years, but initially no one took him seriously.
“"They used to say 'he was complaining,' but now everyone can see for themselves."”
Verstappen emphasized that he has long voiced his concerns about the 2026 technical regulations, stating: “I’ve already expressed my opinions about these rules. At first, most people were saying, ‘If you complain, shut up.’ But in the last few races, more and more people have started to see with their own eyes what I’ve been predicting for years. It’s not about not winning anymore; I’m simply avoiding it because I value the product.”
The Dutch driver had said at a press conference in Belgium that if he continued talking, some people might have to "shoot" him. Verstappen dismissed those remarks as a joke in Hungary: "No, I was joking about that."“
Piastri criticized the algorithms at Spa-Francorchamps for being able to unknowingly memorize drivers' movements and alter energy distribution in subsequent laps, describing the situation as "absurd." He also pointed out that factors outside the driver's control, such as wind direction or track grip levels, could also affect energy management.
Fast drivers are penalized on the straightaways.
According to Verstappen, the 2026 regulations violate a principle that has been a cornering standard throughout history: time gained in a corner shouldn't be penalized on the straight. “When you gain time by going faster in a corner, you have to pay a penalty on the straight; that shouldn't be the case. In every race series, time gained in a corner is free lap time. But now you have to think about which gear to use, braking technique, or how to reload,” he said.
Verstappen stated that this dynamic creates a balancing act that also affects intra-team competition: “Basically, too many lap times are neutralized. That’s why we see so much close competition between teams and within teams; because sometimes you can’t create a difference. You’re not allowed to create a difference, or you pay the price on the next straight.”
Overtaking happens in the middle of the straight, Verstappen doesn't enjoy that.
Hungaroring, with its short straights and numerous corners, is an energy-rich track where this problem is less noticeable compared to Silverstone and Spa. However, Verstappen maintains that the situation hasn't changed. After his overtake of Lewis Hamilton at the Austrian GP was named F1's Overtake of the Month, Verstappen said on the podium, "I hit the boost button and got a little more horsepower than Hamilton," adding that although F1 edited his statement off their social media, it summarized the overtakes of 2026.
“It’s very different and I don’t enjoy it much. Sometimes the two drivers in front of you are battling, using their batteries, and you can overtake them on the next straight without doing anything. Also, because the wings are open everywhere, drag is greatly reduced when following. The overtake sometimes happens right in the middle of the straight; that’s a bit strange. The real problem is: real racing fans understand what’s happening. Those who don’t follow the races much find it great because they see more overtakes, but that’s not the essence of racing,” he said.