Herbert tells Verstappen to 'shut up and drive' over 2026 car complaints

Max Verstappen's vocal criticism of the 2026 Formula 1 cars has drawn a blunt response from former driver Johnny Herbert, who suggested the reigning champion should 'shut up and drive'. The debate highlights a growing divide within the paddock over the new technical regulations, which demand extreme energy management and have been labeled 'anti-racing' by Verstappen.

Why it matters:

As a dominant champion and the sport's biggest star, Verstappen's public dissatisfaction carries significant weight. His threats to leave F1 if the racing doesn't improve pose a genuine credibility crisis for the series' future direction, forcing the FIA and F1 management to consider if the 2026 rules have strayed too far from the core driving experience top competitors demand.

The details:

• Verstappen has been openly critical of the 2026 car dynamics, calling them a "joke" and claiming they force drivers into excessive energy-saving modes, which he believes hurts wheel-to-wheel racing.
• His complaints have found some support among other drivers on the grid, creating a faction unhappy with the new challenge.
• In contrast, drivers like Lewis Hamilton have expressed enjoyment in mastering the new technical puzzle, highlighting a split in driver opinion.
• On the Stay on Track podcast, 1996 champion Damon Hill questioned if Verstappen should simply stop complaining, to which Johnny Herbert agreed, implying the Dutchman's frustration is linked to no longer having the dominant car.
• Herbert noted, "It’s always very nice when you're in the best car. It's always a bit of a struggle when you're not in the best car."

Between the lines:

While Herbert's comments frame Verstappen's outbursts as sour grapes, Hill provided a more nuanced view, acknowledging the champion's lack of diplomacy but also the value of his honesty. Hill warned that F1 must take Verstappen's threats seriously, as his departure would be a massive vote of no confidence in the sport's trajectory. The underlying tension is whether Verstappen is identifying a genuine flaw in the 2026 formula or simply reacting to a more competitive field where Red Bull no longer holds a crushing advantage.