Lawson: Verstappen's 2026 car criticism is 'understandable'

Liam Lawson says he 'understands' Max Verstappen's claim that F1's 2026 cars are 'numb to driver inputs,' a criticism the four-time champion has leveled at the new regulations all season.

Why it matters:

Verstappen's comments strike at the heart of F1's 2026 overhaul. The new cars feature a near-50/50 power split between the internal combustion engine and electrical energy, with the MGU-K now delivering 350kW — nearly three times its previous output. If the sport's top driver feels held back, questions arise over whether the new rules are delivering the racing they promised.

The details:

• Verstappen cited Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda as evidence. Lawson finished seventh in his Red Bull debut at the Dutch Grand Prix, while Tsunoda scored a point for Racing Bulls at Monza — his second outing in a 2026 car.
• 'In the history of the sport, normally the driver that is the most committed... they get rewarded,' Verstappen said. 'But now you're constantly thinking about... brake earlier. Or lift off. And then I have more top speed. It's so unnatural.'
• He likened the feeling to 'a chokehold,' saying drivers are 'held back' by energy management demands.

What's next:

Speaking ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid, Lawson pushed back gently, noting he and Tsunoda are 'really the only ones that know what it's like to try and get up to speed in the new car.'

'It's definitely not a simple thing,' he said.

Verstappen, meanwhile, has committed to Red Bull through 2030, saying he still loves the sport even if not the driving right now. 'I just hope that in the coming years, towards 2030, it can only get better.'