Why is Verstappen dissatisfied with this season’s F1 car specifications?

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Max Verstappen says this season’s F1 car specifications make racing feel “anti-driving” and not natural for a driver

Max Verstappen has expressed dissatisfaction with the new Formula One car specifications, saying the way racing currently feels does not match what he regards as natural driving. He said that while he tries to adapt, the racing style is “really anti-driving,” adding that when he is around seventh or eighth place and not enjoying the “whole formula,” it does not feel right for a racing driver.
He links his frustration to how the car changes the way he has to race
Verstappen’s criticism is aimed at the on-track experience produced by the season’s car specifications. He described it as not feeling natural for a racing driver, even though he makes adjustments to cope with the new setup. His wording was direct: he said the way he has to race is “anti-driving” and “it’s not nice.”
His season results are far from his usual top-of-the-standings form
His dissatisfaction is also framed alongside his current performance in the standings. Verstappen is seventh this season and has no wins, after a period when he won four consecutive drivers’ titles from 2021 to 2024. In 2025 specifically, Lando Norris of McLaren bested him by two points, underscoring how far his season has diverged from his prior dominance.
He is weighing whether he enjoys the sport under the current setup
Verstappen has said he thinks about whether it is worth continuing, pointing to the emotional side of not enjoying the sport. In a March interview, he referenced waiting for 24 races but having only 22 due to the cancellation of two races in the Middle East amid ongoing hostilities. He tied that to broader thoughts about enjoying being at home with family and friends when he is not enjoying his sport.
He is set to raise his future with Red Bull officials while holding contract exit options
Verstappen is expected to discuss his future with Red Bull officials later this week at the site of the Austrian Grand Prix. Coverage also indicates his contract runs through the 2028 season but includes “performance-related exit clauses” that he can trigger, and talks are expected to include whether Red Bull could buy out an exit clause to secure his commitment for the next two seasons. The dissatisfaction he has publicly voiced about the sport’s current “formula” is part of the context for those conversations.

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Why is Verstappen dissatisfied with this season’s F1 car specifications?

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