Max Verstappen says he burst out laughing after driving Formula 1’s 2026 cars around Silverstone on the simulator, claiming the new regulations completely change the feel of the iconic circuit.
The Red Bull driver has been one of the most vocal critics of the 2026 rules, with the increased reliance on electrical battery power among his biggest concerns.
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Verstappen believes Silverstone’s fast-flowing layout will expose a major weakness, with too few heavy braking zones to recharge the battery before the circuit’s long straights.
“Silverstone, I love the track, but I did a few laps on the simulator, I just started laughing. It felt like a different track, to be honest. You barely have battery around the lap.
“It’s just constantly flat. So yes, it’s going to feel very different compared to what we are used to around Silverstone, because of the layout of the track,” Verstappen said after Sunday’s Austrian Grand Prix.
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He said tracks such as the Red Bull Ring allow drivers to regenerate energy under braking, but warned Silverstone offers far fewer opportunities to recharge.
“Here (in Austria) you have long straights and big braking zones, so you can charge the battery. There you have long straights but in a fast corner, for example, so you can’t really charge the batteries, and then the next straight you don’t have a lot to spend. It’s going to be a tough one.”
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The four-time world champion was speaking after finishing second in Austria, where Red Bull introduced upgrades that helped him fight at the front.
Verstappen said it was the first time this season he genuinely felt capable of challenging for victory, praising the team’s efforts to improve the car.
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