Max Verstappen: F1 rule changes ahead of Miami GP are "just a tickle"

Max Verstappen believes the tweaks to the F1 regulations will not make a major difference, but he does see them as a “positive starting point” in giving drivers more of a voice

Max Verstappen has described the Formula 1 regulation changes as “just a tickle” in terms of the impact it will have, but sees the greater communication and interaction between the drivers and rule makers as a positive development.

The FIA and F1 used the April break, as planned, to review the technical regulations. The consensus was that the racing itself is ‘entertaining’ and does not require a ‘knee-jerk reaction’, although an attempt has been made to address some of the main concerns — particularly qualifying and the closing speeds.

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The FIA has already indicated that these adjustments will not fundamentally change the overall picture, and that is exactly what Verstappen expects as well.

“With the changes that are made, I think it's more like a tickle,” the Red Bull driver said during F1’s media day in Miami. “Because at the end of the day, F1 is a very complex and political sport. I think everyone has tried their best to at least do something, but of course it won't change the world.”

The same applies to qualifying. Lowering the harvesting limit and increasing the level of super clipping to the full 350 kilowatts should ensure that drivers are less focused on energy management, but based on his initial simulator running, Verstappen doesn’t expect this weekend's qualifying laps to be on the very limit.

“[This] is not what we need yet to really make it flat out,” he said. “But like I said, it's complicated to get everyone to agree. I just hope for next year we can make really big, big changes.”

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Photo by: Alastair Staley / LAT Images via Getty Images

According to Verstappen, the biggest gain lies in the fact that drivers now have a seat at the table. The four-time world champion has held several meetings with F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali and is also speaking with the FIA behind the scenes about what he believes is needed.

“The positive thing about it is that we’ve had some nice meetings with Formula 1 and the FIA. And I think that's hopefully a starting point for the future. Even in a few years’ time, maybe I'm not here anymore, but I really hope that for the future drivers as well, there's more input to come from the drivers to the organisers in general,” the Dutchman said.

“Because I do think that most of the drivers here, we have a good understanding and a good feel of what is needed to make Formula 1 a good product, a fun product. And I think that's already a huge step forward in terms of the communication.”

Regarding that product, Domenicali has stated that F1 is “in a good place” and that there are essentially no problems. Verstappen understands that point of view, but indicates that it is mainly commercially driven.

“I only speak about the purity of the sport, what we need, and for the drivers as well, what we feel in the car. But you have to understand that it's a business, it's a sport. And that's, like I said, why it can be political at times.”

In conclusion, Verstappen hopes that lessons will be learned from the current situation, as in his view the issues could have been prevented with more input from the drivers: “I hope [they’ll listen to the drivers] more and more. I'm sure that we can have really good input about that.

“I think if we would have had that five or six years ago, then we probably wouldn't have been in the state that we are in now. I just hope that it's a lesson for the future.”