Verstappen and Piastri warn 2026 F1 energy management is changing racing

Drivers lose control of the lap

Energy management has become the defining talking point in Budapest after Oscar Piastri’s criticism of the self-learning algorithms used by Formula 1’s 2026 power units. Piastri described it as “crap” that drivers can be caught out by systems which adapt over time, with tiny differences in input potentially affecting energy deployment later in the lap.

The concern extends beyond driver technique. Changes in wind direction or grip levels can also influence how the algorithms behave, leaving drivers exposed to consequences they cannot directly control. Piastri and Lando Norris have already outlined how unpredictable energy management affected qualifying at Spa in their earlier comments on the 2026 power unit.

Max Verstappen shares the broader concern, although he clarified that his remark in Belgium about people outside the press conference room being able to “shoot” him was a joke. His criticism of the regulations, he said, was initially dismissed as complaining. Now, he believes more people are recognising the problems he identified earlier.

“It’s not about me not winning anymore, it’s just because I care about the product,” Verstappen said.

Is driver talent being neutralised?

Verstappen’s sharpest criticism is that the fastest drivers can no longer consistently convert speed in a corner into lap time. A driver may gain through a turn but lose more on the following straight, forcing changes to gear choice, braking technique and throttle application.

“It’s basically just neutralising a lot of lap time,” Verstappen said, arguing that this helps explain the close battles between teams and team-mates. In his view, drivers are sometimes unable to make a difference because the car penalises that performance later in the lap.

Overtaking under the new rules

The same issue shapes overtaking. Verstappen’s move on Lewis Hamilton in Austria, which won F1’s Overtake of the Month award, prompted a revealing explanation: “I pressed my boost button and suddenly had a bit more horsepower than Lewis.”

He said overtaking can now happen when a driver simply waits for the car ahead to use its battery, then passes on the next straight without doing anything. Open wings also reduce drag while following, while some moves are completed in the middle of the straight rather than under braking.

The Hungaroring is energy-rich, so the effect should be less pronounced than at Silverstone and Spa. Verstappen nevertheless believes the underlying concern remains: more overtakes may look impressive to casual viewers, but knowledgeable racing fans can see when the outcome is being shaped by systems rather than the driver’s craft.