Verstappen: Red Bull substitutes expose how easy F1 2026 has become

Max Verstappen believes strong substitute performances at the Dutch Grand Prix expose a truth about F1's 2026 regulations: the cars are too easy to drive to the limit. The four-time champion cited Liam Lawson qualifying just 0.115s behind him without prior RB22 experience, and Yuki Tsunoda sitting just 0.102s off Arvid Lindblad at Racing Bulls after minimal simulator work, as evidence that energy demands have reduced the emphasis on pure one-lap skill.

Why it matters:

If Verstappen is right, the 2026 rules may be diminishing the driver's role in distinguishing performance. With intra-team gaps shrinking across the grid and substitutes matching regulars within tenths, the margin between elite drivers and replacements is narrowing in ways that could reshape how teams judge talent and allocate seats.

The details:

• Lawson averaged a 0.245s deficit to Verstappen across Zandvoort's two qualifying sessions, close to Isack Hadjar's season-long gap of 0.232s—the smallest for a Red Bull teammate since Daniel Ricciardo in 2018.
• Teammate gaps shrank at six of ten established teams compared to 2025, with the largest intra-team split dropping from 0.735s to just 0.303s.
• Oscar Piastri noted that "computers behaving or misbehaving" increasingly decide qualifying outcomes, reducing the influence of driver skill.

Between the lines:

McLaren boss Andrea Stella pushed back hard, insisting the 2026 cars are actually harder to master. He cited reduced downforce, smaller tires, and unpredictable power unit behavior that force constant adaptation, arguing last year's higher-grip machinery was more straightforward once drivers acclimated to the speed. Stella added that wind sensitivity and inconsistent grip make finding the limit a moving target, suggesting compressed gaps reflect circumstance rather than simplified driving.