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Formula 1's 2026 regulations were intended to usher in a new era of highly efficient power units, featuring an even 50-50 power split between the internal combustion engine and the electric battery. However, reigning world champion Max Verstappen believes the sport is heading in entirely the wrong direction.
Speaking on a podcast, the Dutchman was asked what single rule he would change if given complete freedom. His response was immediate and focused squarely on the power units: scrap the overly complex, heavy V6 turbo-hybrids and bring back naturally aspirated V8 engines.
The roaring soundtrack of eight-cylinder engines was last heard on track at the conclusion of the 2013 season, just before the dawn of the turbo-hybrid era. Since then, grand prix cars have become significantly heavier and heavily reliant on battery energy management.
"If it were up to me, I'd bring back V8 engines immediately. It solves so many problems. A proper eight-cylinder engine is miles better in every single aspect—the driving feel is completely different, the cars are lighter, and the racing is so much more enjoyable," Verstappen said.
For the Red Bull driver, such a shift is not merely about nostalgia for a louder exhaust note; it represents a fundamental fix for excessive car weight and sluggish on-track handling.
Perhaps the most intriguing part of Verstappen's vision involves the way drivers overtake. Since 2011, F1 has relied on the Drag Reduction System (DRS) to aid passing by opening a flap in the rear wing. Verstappen argues that a lighter car powered by a V8 engine and paired with a compact battery for a "push-to-pass" boost—similar to IndyCar—could replace movable aerodynamics for good.
"If you add a small battery just for a push-to-pass system, we wouldn't need DRS at all. It works brilliantly in IndyCar. With DRS, you just breeze past your rival on the straight without any real effort, whereas with a manual power boost, you have to be tactical about when to deploy it and then fight it out under braking into the corner," the Red Bull driver explained.
Verstappen stressed that modern overtakes often feel too artificial and predictable because of the overwhelming advantage provided by an open rear wing. In his view, Formula 1 should reward pure racecraft and daring maneuvers rather than relying entirely on aerodynamic aids.
"In my ideal world, the cars would run V8 or V10 engines, perhaps with just a small battery for extra power. That would make the racing far more exciting and closely contested, especially at tracks where overtaking has traditionally been difficult," the four-time world champion concluded.
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