Max Verstappen: 'Easier' F1 Cars Are Narrowing the Gap Between Drivers

Max Verstappen says the current generation of Formula 1 cars has made it easier for drivers to find the limit, effectively narrowing the gap between teammates. His comments followed Dutch Grand Prix qualifying, where reserve driver Liam Lawson ended up just 0.115 seconds behind him and will start alongside him on Row 4.

Why it matters:

Verstappen's assessment suggests the current regulations are compressing the field by reducing the advantage elite drivers can extract through pure skill. If the cars are doing more of the heavy lifting in qualifying, it becomes harder for established stars to build a significant edge over substitutes or rookies.

The details:

• The gap between Verstappen and Lawson marks a dramatic shift from their last pairing, when Lawson qualified last while Verstappen lined up fourth.
• Verstappen pointed to battery deployment and energy management as factors that make qualifying laps easier to replicate, with drivers running down on battery in certain sectors.
• He noted the margins have remained microscopic all season, usually within one or two tenths, with even a poor session rarely exceeding three tenths.
• He clarified the remarks were not a slight at Lawson, whom he praised for a solid weekend after strong showings at Racing Bulls.
• Despite the close qualifying, Verstappen expressed continued frustration with the Red Bull package, citing persistent balance issues that remained untouched despite significant setup changes.

What's next:

Verstappen hopes race conditions will help close the gap to the front, admitting otherwise Red Bull risks being "completely alone" in no man's land. He also hinted that fundamental changes are needed for next year's car, with the team still struggling to solve the handling problems that have plagued them throughout 2026.