Max Verstappen taking his time on Formula One future, says rule tweaks only a ‘tickle’

MIAMI – Max Verstappen said he was taking his time in deciding his Formula One future and called recent rule changes merely a “tickle” rather than what was really required.

Red Bull’s four-time world champion is no fan of the sport’s new engine era and has suggested he is unhappy enough to walk away.

The uncertainty around him has increased after McLaren announced that the Dutchman’s race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase will be joining them after his current contract ends in 2028.

“I still have time and I’m taking my time,” Verstappen, 28, told reporters on April 30, ahead of the Miami Grand Prix weekend.

“What I said in Japan (on March 29) is still the same, but I also still have a lot of time.”

Verstappen said Lambiase’s move had no bearing on his future and there were no hard feelings.

He once said he would stop racing if the 45-year-old was no longer his race engineer – the voice in his ear over the team radio during a race – but he distanced himself from that stance on April 30 and made clear he would have to find someone else.

“Otherwise I don’t get to drive,” Verstappen said, grinning. “I think also, you know, times change. I would be an idiot to try and keep him. It’s not only about me all the time.

“The future, that’s what we are looking at now. You know, with a different race engineer. I’m sure we’ll find solutions for that as well.”

On revised rules that come into force for the first time in Miami after agreement between all parties during the enforced April break, as a result of races in the Middle East being called off due to the Iran war, he said they did not go far enough.

“We had some nice meetings with Formula One and the FIA,” Verstappen said. “I think that’s the starting point, hopefully for the future. Of course, with the changes that are made, I think it’s more like a tickle.

“I think everyone has tried their best to at least do something. But of course, it won’t change the world. It’s a tickle. It’s not what we need yet to really make it (qualifying) flat out.”

The rule changes were made in response to concerns about driver safety and energy management.

Speaking at an official news conference, most drivers said the changes made to the levels of “super-clipping” and battery-power harvesting would reduce dangers, but have little overall effect on the spectacle in the sport’s new hybrid era.

Aston Martin driver Lance Stroll lambasted the new formula as “fundamentally flawed” and “a thousand times less fun than Formula Three”.

The conflict in 2026 has stemmed from the introduction of the 50-50 split between use of battery power and traditional engine power in an attempt to create a greener sport.

Many drivers feel the sport needs more naturally aspirated power from an engine and less from the battery.

“It’s a step in the right direction,” said Audi’s Nico Hulkenberg. “I’m curious to see how it feels and works on track now.”

McLaren’s Oscar Piastri said the collaboration had produced good changes, but added that he felt the chief problems could not be fixed without a fundamental overhaul of the hardware of the power units.

He said it was good that the rules had been tweaked to reduce the huge imbalance in performance and speed between cars that are using maximum power, and those slowing down to harvest and store battery power.

A crash in Japan involving Oliver Bearman of Haas, who escaped serious injury, left many drivers worried about similar accidents potentially occurring in the future.

“After Olly’s crash, something needed to change and it is good that they listened to us,” said Piastri. “The tweaks are good, and sensible and well thought out so it is a positive thing, but let’s wait and see how it pans out from a safety point of view.” REUTERS, AFP