Why Max Verstappen Is at a Major Disadvantage Under New F1 Regulations

Four-time champion Max Verstappen is among the most negatively affected by the 2026 regulations' 50/50 hybrid split, according to former Toro Rosso team principal Franz Tost. The rule forces drivers to lift earlier and coast through corners to conserve battery energy, erasing the late-braking edge that has long defined elite F1 driving.

Why it matters:

The regulations were introduced to promote closer racing, but they have inadvertently penalized the sport's most talented drivers. Verstappen, along with Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri, and Fernando Alonso, lose their primary weapon: braking late and carrying speed through corners. This could flatten the competitive hierarchy and reduce the impact of pure driver skill.

The details:

• Tost explained on the 15 Love - der Business Podcast that the 50/50 split between combustion engine and battery requires drivers to come off the throttle 20-30 meters earlier than before.
• "If you used to brake at 100 meters, you now just roll through the corner to save energy for the straights," he said.
• Top drivers derive their performance precisely from braking points and speed toward the apex. "Now they no longer have an advantage there."
• The FIA introduced initial tweaks for the Miami Grand Prix to allow drivers to push more, but the core issue remains.
• Tost noted that the governing bodies are aware of the problems, but politics complicate further changes.

What's next:

Tost expects additional adjustments throughout the season, but Mercedes currently leads the constructors' standings and may resist rule changes that benefit rivals. The delicate balance between fairness and competition will test the FIA and FOM's resolve. Until then, Verstappen and other late-braking specialists will continue to struggle for their natural advantage.