Max Verstappen's sarcastic wave to Pierre Gasly highlights 2026 frustrations

Max Verstappen’s frustration with Formula 1’s 2026 regulations was on full display at Suzuka

During the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix, Formula 1 fans laughed as Max Verstappen seemingly became more and more frustrated with the championship's current regulations. As Alpine's Pierre Gasly breezed past him on the start-finish straight of Suzuka, the four-time champion simply waved him by.

The lack of performance came from the fact that the Dutchman had already depleted his car's electrical energy for deployment, making him a sitting duck as his former team-mate used the full power of his Mercedes power unit to overtake the Milton Keynes machinery.

The 2026 regulations introduced a power unit featuring a near 50:50 split between internal combustion engine and electrical power. This has changed the nature of overtaking, replacing the traditional DRS with a new battery-based boost system that rewards drivers who get within one second of the car ahead with an extra surge of electrical power.

As a result, energy management has become a huge priority for drivers as they fight against power loss and super clipping.

Verstappen hasn't hidden his discontent with these changes, describing the format as a "Mario Kart" boost system and "Formula E on steroids". He even previously joked that he'd swapped his standard simulator work with playing a Nintendo Switch gaming console, quipping that he is "good with mushrooms, but not so much with blue shells".

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Pierre Gasly, Alpine

Photo by: Clive Mason / Getty Images

Talking to the media, including Motorsport.com, following today's race, the driver was once again disappointed with the characteristics of these current cars.

"You just can't pass. Well you can pass, but then you have no battery the next straight," he said. "So I tried one time just to have a look, so I passed him into the final chicane, but then yeah, you have no battery the next straight. So I was like, 'see you later.'"

Verstappen's performance this weekend left much to be desired. Starting 11th on the grid after a surprise Q2 exit on Saturday, he labelled the car "completely undrivable". While he spent his Sunday trying to salvage what points he could, he crossed the line behind Gasly in seventh, netting just 6 points for Red Bull.

His team-mate, Isack Hadjar, had an equally difficult race, finishing out of the points in 12th.