Drivers Still Don't Like the New-Generation Cars

Even with 13 Formula One races already completed and the Spanish Grand Prix at the Madrid circuit set to be followed by just one more event, some drivers are still openly unhappy with the sport’s next-generation rules. Max Verstappen, a four-time world champion, has repeatedly criticized the 2026 cars’ energy system, calling racing in them “Mario Kart” earlier this season. He says lap performance depends too little on driver skill, pointing to Liam Lawson and reserve driver Yuki Tsunoda as examples of immediate competitiveness. Fernando Alonso echoes the concern, arguing driver input is “just nothing,” and suggesting his 2027 future depends on FIA regulation choices.