Buemi backs Verstappen's criticism of 'anti-racing' F1 energy rules

Formula E champion and Red Bull simulator driver Sebastien Buemi has publicly supported Max Verstappen's fierce criticism of Formula 1's new energy management regulations, labeling the requirement to save energy during a qualifying lap as a fundamental contradiction to the sport's core philosophy.

Why it matters:

The debate strikes at the heart of F1's identity, pitting the push for technological relevance and sustainability against the traditional, pure racing ethos of going flat-out. As a champion of the all-electric FE series, Buemi's endorsement of Verstappen's view adds significant weight to the argument that the two categories should remain philosophically distinct, raising questions about the direction of F1's 2026 technical regulations.

The details:

• Verstappen initially criticized the rules during pre-season testing, calling them "anti-racing" and akin to "Formula E on steroids," specifically targeting the mandatory 50-50 split in power output from the internal combustion engine and electrical energy.
• Buemi agreed, highlighting the unique challenge in qualifying: "The weird thing is to go into a qualifying lap and not even being able to just go flat out from start to finish... in Formula E qualifying, you go flat out. You don't care about energy, but in F1, you also have to care about energy in qualifying."
• He framed it as a purity issue: "I fully understand his comment of it not being as pure as Formula 1 always was, which is to go as fast as you can. Now you go fast, you need to save [energy], which is just a contradiction in itself."
• The new, smaller, lighter cars have also drastically increased driver workload. Buemi explained drivers must now constantly adapt to massive entry speed variations—sometimes up to 40 kph difference—due to energy recovery, while managing more frequent straight-line mode activations and less downforce.

What's next:

The vocal criticism from top drivers like Verstappen and Lando Norris has not gone unnoticed. F1 bosses and the FIA are scheduled to discuss potential remedies to the rules, particularly the "super clipping" phenomenon witnessed in Melbourne where drivers couldn't complete a full qualifying lap at full speed. While the energy management variable is now an undeniable factor in F1, these talks will determine if and how the sport adjusts its new formula to better balance innovation with racing purity.