Max Verstappen after P3 in Canada: It’s not what Formula 1 should be about it’s way too complex

Verstappen finished P3 in the Canadian Grand Prix behind Mercedes winner Kimi Antonelli and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, securing the first podium for Red Bull’s in-house power unit project in only its 5th Formula 1 race weekend.

The result marked a significant milestone for the Milton Keynes operation after years of preparation ahead of the current engine era, but Verstappen’s post-race comments again exposed his dissatisfaction with modern Formula 1 machinery.

Asked about the current generation power units and whether drivers were beginning to adapt to the complex energy management systems, Verstappen delivered a blunt assessment of the state of Formula 1.

“For me, even this season, of course, I’ve been racing also different kind of cars and especially last week, that reminds me how pure motorsport can be and how great the racing can be,” Verstappen explained.

“So, yeah, when I come back into Formula 1, the thing is of course here, especially most of the drivers, we’re the best in the world. So even if you would give us a rental car, we’ll give you a good show and we’ll race each other very hard and well.”

Verstappen insisted the spectacle currently seen in Formula 1 is down to the drivers rather than the technical regulations: “So it has nothing to do in that sense with the rules. But for me, while driving, yeah, it’s all a bit confusing. It’s not what Formula 1 should be about. It’s way too complex, all of this.”

The four-time F1 World Champion criticised the complexity of modern Formula 1 systems, arguing that fans have little understanding of the processes drivers are forced to manage throughout a race weekend: “Most of the rules, the fans don’t even know what we are dealing with while driving,.

"What is allowed when you’re behind or when you’re the car ahead, what we have to do on a formation lap or what we have to do in an out-lap, or how much battery that we’re allowed to charge. All these things are just such a shame that we have to deal with all these things,” he said.

The Red Bull driver also backed ongoing discussions aimed at reducing the dominance of electrical deployment within the regulations.

“For me F1 just needs to be more pure and I really hope that what they try to do next year will go through because I think that is necessary, the minimum necessary, to make it a bit more natural and a bit more back to normal, or at least a bit more pure racing,” Verstappen declared.

“But like I said, as drivers, give us any kind of car, we’ll always race and give a good entertainment or a good show. Doesn’t matter, people say, ‘Oh, but look now, the show is great, the cars were fighting,’ but it has nothing to do with the car. It just needs to be more pure.”

Despite his criticism of the regulations, Verstappen admitted he was pleasantly surprised to finish on the podium after struggling more in Montreal than he had during the previous round in Miami.

He admitted: “To be honest, I was feeling better in Miami with the car, so I’m a little bit surprised with being on the podium here. But you also have to look at it with George retiring, McLarens making a mess of the strategy. So, for me to be here, of course I’m very happy.”

Verstappen explained that tyre behaviour remained one of Red Bull’s biggest weaknesses during the race: “I think on the Softs we’re a little bit more competitive and then on the Medium I never really felt like I could switch on the tyre, so the tyre was just not in the right window for us.

"That stint was then a little bit more difficult to feel any kind of grip. But we still did a good job. I think for us to have our first podium is just very positive and, of course, very pleased with that in quite tricky conditions, I would say," added Verstappen.

Red Bull Team Principal Laurent Mekies hailed the result as a landmark achievement for the company’s engine division: “Firstly, congratulations to everyone at Red Bull Ford Powertrains. To claim our very first podium with our own PU, in only its fifth race, is truly a historic moment, especially when you consider the pedigree and experience of our competitors.”

While Red Bull celebrated an important milestone in Montreal, Verstappen’s comments again underlined the growing frustration among drivers regarding Formula 1’s increasingly complicated technical direction as debates continue over future regulation changes.