Sebastian Vettel explodes and sides with Max Verstappen

The criticism of the new Formula 1 regulations continues. After the controversy that emerged already in the pre-season tests, starting with the words of Max Verstappen, who would even be considering retirement, the 2025 world champion Lando Norris has also joined in. The Briton, after initially criticizing the Dutchman, has since changed his mind, agreeing with his colleague and saying that this is not the real F1. As reported by Marca, the criticism was also joined by Sebastian Vettel, who said that in this way the category risks losing something of its essence.

During a press conference in Sweden, the former Red Bull and Ferrari standard bearer said, “The single-seaters will probably be fun to drive, but it won’t be that much fun to race in them because of the regulations and the difficulties they entail.” In addition, the former F1 champion showed a lot of closeness toward the drivers, “I side with them and I am very critical because I believe that we should not lose the essence and heart of the sport, which is about finding the fastest driver in the fastest car to win the race.”

However, Max Verstappen had previously expressed strong doubts about the new system linked to the ‘overtake button,’ criticizing a mechanism that in his view makes duels unnatural and too dependent on battery management, with constant position swaps due more to available energy than real value on the track. A criticism that was later echoed by Sebastian Vettel himself: “A car with a full battery overtaking one with a low battery is not a real overtaking.”

“The drivers are the face of the sport. They are the ones who get out of the car full of adrenaline and enthusiasm,” said the German. “It is this energy that transmits passion to those watching the race on the screens and to the spectators in the stands.”