F1 boss urges Max Verstappen to set aside emotions and stay in the sport
F1 boss urges Max Verstappen to set aside his anger over rules and stay, as sport cuts battery‑recharge from 8 MJ to 7 MJ; Verstappen’s exit would hurt a sport with 800 million fans.
F1 chief Stefano Domenicali publicly urged Max Verstappen to set aside his emotions over the new 2026 power‑unit rules and stay in the sport. The Dutch champion, who has criticised the package and hinted at quitting, will see the battery‑recharge limit cut from 8 MJ to 7 MJ to curb super‑clipping and lift‑and‑coast.
Why it matters:
- Verstappen is a four‑time champion and F1’s biggest draw, especially in the Netherlands.
- His departure would dent a sport that now reaches over 800 million fans worldwide.
- A constructive relationship is essential for the 2026 regulation rollout.
The details:
- Verstappen called the 2026 rules “unfair” and warned qualifying speeds are “unacceptable.”
- An April meeting of F1, the FIA, teams and drivers produced a compromise.
- From Miami onward, the battery‑recharge allowance drops from 8 MJ to 7 MJ per lap, curbing super‑clipping.
- Domenicali told Autosport emotional reactions add no value and could harm the sport’s image.
What's next:
- Verstappen hasn’t decided yet, but Domenicali hopes for a “constructive” outcome.
- If the 7 MJ limit works, the FIA may fine‑tune qualifying further.
- The episode shows the need for dialogue as F1 rolls out its biggest technical shift in a decade, with driver input vital to fine‑tuning the new era.
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