Verstappen and Ex-Designer Align on Miami GP Changes

Former F1 designer Gary Anderson agrees with Max Verstappen that recent regulation tweaks for the Miami Grand Prix failed to address the sport's core issues, calling them a "token gesture." Both figures argue the changes, intended to mitigate problems like excessive closing speeds, have produced only marginal effects, leaving the fundamental racing dynamics unchanged.

Why it matters:

The shared skepticism from a top driver and a respected technical mind highlights a growing concern that F1's current regulatory approach is applying band-aid solutions. With the 2026 rules overhaul on the horizon, this criticism underscores the pressure on the FIA to deliver regulations that genuinely improve racing and driver agency, rather than creating complex, strategy-dominated contests.

The details:

• Unchanged Fundamentals: Both Verstappen and Anderson observed that the core complaint—drivers being punished for taking corners faster by losing straight-line speed—remained prevalent in Miami.
• Persistent Issues: Anderson noted the targeted problems, like "super clipping" and dangerous closing speeds, were still present, albeit slightly improved in some instances.
• Artificial Racing: A key criticism from Anderson is that success is becoming too detached from pure driving skill, relying instead on complex energy management strategies devised by teams off-track.
• Verstappen's Take: The reigning champion stated his car felt "a bit nicer" to drive but emphasized the underlying regulatory philosophy remains flawed and counter-intuitive.

What's next:

The debate sets the stage for the critical 2026 regulation changes. Anderson concluded by suggesting a radical alternative: a return to simpler, driver-focused power units, specifically a "noisy non-turbo V8 engine on sustainable fuel." This opinion, echoing recent comments from FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, signals that the discussion about F1's future technical direction is far from settled and may involve revisiting past concepts to solve current problems.