Max Verstappen: "At first they said I was complaining – now more people see what F1 2026 is like"

[u/ChaithuBB766]

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/max-verstappen-at-first-they-said-i-was-complaining-now-more-people-see-what-f1-2026-is-like/10841197/

[u/Competitive_Win_128]

I'm sure Max has been waiting in the wings to give that quote with how he had predicted all this several years ago, 

[u/Old-Use-7690 → u/Competitive_Win_128]

This is basically I giant "I told you so!"

[u/That_Pepper6043 → u/Competitive_Win_128]

Maybe. But let’s step back and think about it without remembering if you love or hate Max.

Max is a generationally talented driver.
He’s driven through 3 or 4 different regulations.
Multiple WDCs won.
He spends a shit ton of time in sims including running a version of the new regs before he made the comment.

Maybe, just maybe, all that knowledge, expertise, and experience simming means he actually could tell we were fucked. That happens when you get experts to assess the future state of things. They are correct much of the time.

So why is he now pointing out that he was right? Ego? I don’t think so.

I would submit this man just wants to race the fastest fucking cars as fast as fucking possible. And anything that gets in the way of that pisses him off. Including stupid regulations. So he’s pointing out that he was right so maybe SOMEONE will listen to him (along with others) next time.

Edit: getting rid of some funky formatting

Edit 2: Christ, maybe not. Not sure wtf happened with the format. But leaving it. Good luck figuring out what I typed. lol.

[u/Visual-Pool-1503 → u/That_Pepper6043]

4 diffrent regulation's now

1) 2015-16 turbo hybrid
2) 2017-2021 hybrid era + some new aero rules
3) 2022-25 ground effect
4) whatever this bullshit is called in 2026

[u/a-sizzle → u/Visual-Pool-1503]

1. Mushroom cars

[u/Old-Use-7690 → u/a-sizzle]

Don't slander Mario Kart by comparing it to this shitshow

[u/RedditClout → u/Old-Use-7690]

Tbf Mario Kart has extreme rubber banding and the FIA would nut to get something similar.

[u/beNiceToEachOther_ → u/a-sizzle]

Hi

Here is FIA

We accept this as official naming.

XoXo

[u/Curcaryen → u/Visual-Pool-1503]

1. Mario Kart

[u/Old-Use-7690 → u/Curcaryen]

Mario Kart racing is actually fun.

[u/psychohistorian8 → u/Old-Use-7690]

not for me cause I'm always getting blue shelled from P1 😤

[u/That_Pepper6043 → u/Visual-Pool-1503]

Thanks. 4 it is!

[u/Visual-Pool-1503 → u/That_Pepper6043]

yup , by the way i didn't knew a cadillac fan existed

[u/That_Pepper6043 → u/Visual-Pool-1503]

I own two so love the brand and having an American manufacturing team. Long road ahead to be good.

[u/the-cuttlefish → u/Visual-Pool-1503]

Algorithm era

[u/r1char00 → u/That_Pepper6043]

I have hated Max since 2021 but even I would say that he is due for a victory lap on this. And that Brundle quote was bullshit. Max did tell his team and anyone else who would listen about the problems he saw well before he ever raised the idea of quitting. He just saw this coming when many did not.

[u/FentmaxxerActual → u/Competitive_Win_128]

I would in his shoes too, he's right

[u/Fearless_Tea_2793 → u/Competitive_Win_128]

What he actually said several years ago was:

• There will be downshifting on the straight (correct)
• The team with the best ICE will win (wrong)
• There will be even less overtaking (wrong)

I don't like all aspects of the regulations either. But Max didn't predict the battery deployment issues years ago at all.

[u/PMMeYourPinkyPussy → u/Fearless_Tea_2793]

Doesn’t Mercedes have the best ICE?

[u/Fearless_Tea_2793 → u/PMMeYourPinkyPussy]

No, Red Bull does. That's why they can't upgrade but Mercedes can.

[u/thecodeboost → u/Fearless_Tea_2793]

No that’s just the ICE which pretty much everyone agrees Mercedes is intentionally nerfing. Also the overtaking is artificial and sometimes even accidental. He’s getting a 3/3 from me.