Max Verstappen is significantly happier with the direction of F1 after planned changes to the power unit regulations were announced by the FIA.
The Red Bull driver said the proposed tweaks to the rules “definitely” boost his chances of staying in the championship, having previously openly flirted with the idea of walking away.
Back in the F1 paddock in Montreal and refreshed after his Nürburgring 24 Hours exploits, the Dutchman said the mooted alteration from a near 50/50 division in power between internal combustion and electric energy to a 60/40 split was moving the right way.
Verstappen is no friend of the 2026 power unit regulations and has been the most vocal critic amongst his peers, using his status to apply pressure to the powers that be.
However, the devised changes should go some way to nullify a few of the more polarising elements of the current rulebook, and will seemingly placate the 28-year-old in the process.
“It’s definitely heading in a very positive direction,” the four-time F1 drivers’ champion told media, including ApexF1News, at the Canadian Grand Prix.
“It was the minimum I was hoping for, and I think it’s really nice that that’s what they want to do. That’s definitely also what I think the sport needs.”
When asked if it increases the likelihood of him staying for the 2027 campaign, he replied: “Yeah, definitely. I just want a good product in Formula 1, and that will, for sure, improve the product.”
After the recent amendments to the regulations for this season, which were made ahead of the Miami Grand Prix, the FIA moved to go one step further for next year, following the round in Florida.
And when queried on whether his exploration of endurance racing had changed his perception of what he wanted from F1, he reiterated his stance.
“It was also just depending on the future rules, right?” Verstappen replied.
“What I said before, with the changes, hopefully that will happen next year, that will already help a lot, because I’ve always said it doesn’t matter if I have a good car or not, it’s just the product — and I think the product will improve like that.
“So, naturally, I think [that] then the enjoyment will go up as well.”
Despite the progress, which has been welcomed by the 71-time grand prix winner, he would not provide a definitive answer on whether he will be racing in F1 next season.
“Like I said before, it will make the product better, so that means that I’m happier, and that’s what I want, to be able to continue in Formula 1,” he stated. “I’m not, ‘yes or no’; it doesn’t matter. For me, I’m happy where I’m at.
“I see the team really progressing, and that’s also very exciting to see, and for me, I always wanted to continue anyway, but I always wanted to see change, and I think the change that’s coming now is definitely very, very positive, or at least I would say almost back to normal. So that’s good.”
