Mortara counters Verstappen's 'F1 as Formula E on steroids' criticism

Formula E veteran Edoardo Mortara has pushed back against Max Verstappen's critique of Formula 1's new technical era, dismissing the Red Bull driver's characterization of the sport as "Formula E on steroids." Mortara argues the two championships remain fundamentally different and urges critics, including Verstappen, to give the complex 2026 regulations more time before passing final judgment.

Why it matters:

The debate highlights a growing philosophical divide within F1 about its future identity and technological direction. As the sport increases its reliance on electrical energy and complex energy management, drivers and fans are grappling with whether these changes enhance racing or dilute F1's core DNA. Verstappen's vocal criticism and threat to leave the sport add significant weight to the conversation, making other drivers' perspectives, especially from Formula E, crucial for a balanced view.

The details:

• Diverging driver opinions: The 2026 regulations, which increase the role of the hybrid powertrain and battery deployment, have split the F1 grid. While George Russell found them "not as bad as expected," Max Verstappen has been fiercely critical, famously labeling the new formula and suggesting it could impact his future in the sport.
• Mortara's core argument: The Mahindra Formula E driver, who has raced in the all-electric series since 2017, acknowledges F1 has adopted some energy management aspects familiar to FE but stresses the sports are distinct. "In my opinion, it's still two different sports," Mortara stated in an interview with GPblog.
• Key differences highlighted: Mortara points to the fundamental power unit philosophy: F1 remains a hybrid series that has simply increased the electrical percentage, whereas Formula E cars are "fully, fully, fully electric." He also notes the complexity of the new F1 rulebook itself is a barrier to easy comparison.
• A spectator's silver lining: From a fan's perspective, Mortara is optimistic, suggesting the new energy challenges are "not such a bad thing for the spectators, because you've got quite some overtakes," implying strategic complexity can improve the show.

What's next:

Mortara's primary advice is patience. He believes the current skepticism is premature, stemming from a lack of familiarity with the new rules after only a handful of races.

• He predicts that as teams and drivers adapt, the "negative kind of comments that you had at the beginning of the year will probably, maybe, not be there at the end of the year."
• The coming months will be a critical test of this theory. If racing becomes more predictable or drivers remain frustrated, pressure on the FIA and FOM to tweak the regulations will intensify. Conversely, if the championship battle tightens and overtaking increases, the narrative around the 2026 rules could shift positively.
• All eyes will remain on Verstappen to see if his stance softens with adaptation or if his disillusionment grows, potentially triggering a seismic shift in the driver market and the sport's appeal.