Max Verstappen isn’t holding back his opinions on the new F1 regulations for 2026. With the FIA planning a 30kg weight reduction for cars, Verstappen insists it should be much more—at least 100-150kg.
The FIA recently released details about the upcoming 2026 regulations ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix. These changes will make the cars slightly shorter and narrower, aiming to improve agility on the track. However, Verstappen believes the 30kg reduction target is far from sufficient.
He pointed out that many teams already struggle to meet the current minimum weight requirements, and reducing another 30kg might pose even bigger challenges. ‘It’s gonna be very tough with how everything is, but let’s see,’ Verstappen told Motorsport.com. He added, ‘Even now, some teams are overweight, right? So, to go even 30 kilos less… of course, I know that the dimensions change a little bit, but I’m not sure that 30 kilos will be the perfect scenario.’
Verstappen is skeptical about whether the planned reduction will make the cars more exciting to drive. ‘You need at least 100-150kg,’ he said. ‘At the moment with how everything is, for sure it’s not possible. But that is also to do with the engine, right? Engine and battery related… it’s very heavy and long, wide.’
Despite the challenges, Verstappen remains optimistic about the need for lighter cars. ‘At the moment it’s wishful thinking but that is definitely what we need, to make it more agile and probably a bit more fun.’ He acknowledged that safety features have added a lot of weight but believes there could be alternatives. ‘Safety added a lot of weight, which of course, is good but I’m sure that we can do things a little bit differently. It depends on the regulations that you write.’
The new regulations also include the elimination of DRS, replaced by active aerodynamics and an electrical override for drivers. On this, Verstappen commented, ‘I don’t know how effective it’s going to be. This is something that I haven’t seen yet, how effective that is going to be.’ He even joked, ‘Maybe we need some bananas, and a red shell…’
The 2026 rule changes are still a hot topic, and it’s clear that drivers like Verstappen have strong opinions about what will work best on the track.
As always, Max Verstappen is vocal about his vision for the future of F1. He believes that significant weight reductions are crucial for making the cars more enjoyable to drive. While the proposed changes by the FIA are a step in the right direction, it remains to be seen how effective they will be in practice.
Source: Motorsport
