Verstappen experiences '10/10 fun' despite frustrations in F1.

      Max Verstappen stated that his weekend at the Nurburgring was "definitely a ten" in terms of enjoyment, contrasting sharply with his current feelings about Formula 1. The four-time world champion shifted his attention to GT3 cars between the Chinese and Japanese Grands Prix, securing a win from pole position in an NLS event before being disqualified for exceeding the permitted number of tyre sets. "Definitely a ten," Verstappen remarked when asked to evaluate the weekend.

      The Dutch driver has openly expressed his frustration with the 2026 regulations in Formula 1, consistently criticizing the new era. However, he asserts that his dissatisfaction is not solely due to Red Bull's lack of competitiveness. It has come to light that the RB22 is considerably overweight, by as much as 28.5 kilograms, which translates to approximately a second lost per lap relative to the minimum weight requirement. "That excess weight costs them a second per lap," confirmed simulator driver Rudy van Buren. "The major improvements for Red Bull revolve around weight."

      Despite this, much of Verstappen’s critique remains focused on the driving style required under the new regulations, particularly the heavy energy management and lift-and-coast techniques. Former driver and GPDA chairman Alex Wurz acknowledged Verstappen’s perspective. "He’s clearly unhappy with the circumstances, including his team's position and the regulations - and I completely understand that," Wurz commented on ORF. "However, we can’t change it overnight. All we can do now is try to adapt."

      Wurz believes that improvements will come over time. "Teams will enhance their performance, and his team will too. The competition will become more intense," he said. He also mentioned a broader concern with the current structure. "It should once again reward those who spend the most time accelerating and the least on braking. Currently, it’s quite the opposite - and I recognize that’s not ideal."

      For now, Verstappen is anticipated to spend more time at the Nordschleife, especially with the gap in April resulting from the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix. "I’ll try to race as much as I can," he stated. "We’re exploring what’s feasible."

      However, Ralf Schumacher cautioned that Verstappen must remain focused on his primary responsibilities. "Max needs to be more concentrated," he said. "This year he doesn’t have the best car, and when he pushes too hard, he tends to make mistakes. Now is the moment to accept the situation and assist the team."