Even Verstappen is relishing Monaco despite ongoing F1 criticism.

      Even Max Verstappen found himself lauding the controversial 2026 Formula 1 cars in Monaco. The Dutch driver and his father Jos have both been prominent critics of the new regulations, which have faced considerable ridicule for their heavy focus on energy management. However, the unique layout of Monaco largely mitigated these issues, enabling drivers to race more instinctively.

      "This is how Formula 1 should be," Jos Verstappen remarked to De Limburger after qualifying. "Not intentionally taking corners slower and all that nonsense – just full throttle." His son, a four-time world champion who qualified in P2 behind championship leader Kimi Antonelli, concurred that Monaco showcased the cars at their finest.

      "I think the chassis regulation is not that bad at all," Verstappen stated. "Overall, the cars being slightly narrower is acceptable." He also appreciated the enhancements to visibility. "I quite like that the view from the front axle is a bit better around the apexes again," the Red Bull driver noted.

      Most importantly, Monaco allowed drivers to engage with the car more intuitively. "If you can go flat out and choose the gears you want to use in the corners, it’s always going to be better," Verstappen explained. "I finally felt like myself again in the car. That makes it much more natural to drive for sure."

      However, not everyone shared his enthusiasm. Lewis Hamilton, who qualified P3 for Ferrari, echoed Fernando Alonso's renewed criticism of the current generation. "Probably one of my least favorites among all the generations I’ve raced around here," remarked the seven-time world champion. Hamilton highlighted the reduction in downforce, increased tyre pressures, and decreased mechanical grip compared to prior eras. "I recall when I was here in 2007 and 2008, there was so much more grip," he reflected. "It was even more enjoyable back then." He feels that Formula 1 reached its peak only a few years ago. "Maybe 2020 was probably the best period for us, grip-wise," Hamilton added.

      Alonso, positioned at the back, reiterated his earlier criticism during Monaco. "There’s nothing that can be done," the Aston Martin veteran stated. "It’s what we have until 2030." The Spaniard suggested that the ongoing discussions about future engine and chassis modifications indicate a widespread dissatisfaction with the current setup. "We’re discussing changing the engine for next year and modifying the regulations for 2030," Alonso pointed out. "That shows that no one is content with the current cars."

      "Whether the critical drivers choose to be vocal or not is up to them. In any case, the same car will be used by everyone until 2030," he concluded.