Verstappen backs FIA to 'make the right call' on 60/40 power unit split

Verstappen throws his weight behind FIA amid power unit debate

Max Verstappen has offered the FIA his full support to "make the right call" on the future of Formula 1's power unit regulations, backing a proposed shift to a 60/40 split that would see internal combustion engine contribution take a greater share over electrical deployment.

The four-time world champion has made no secret of his frustration with the regulations introduced this season, labelling them "anti-racing" on multiple occasions. His objections have centred on the overemphasis on energy management and on qualifying sessions that are not always driven flat out — concerns that, he has noted, are absent this weekend at Monaco, where the street circuit's unique demands demand full commitment throughout.

Following his podium finish in Montreal, Verstappen drew a clear line in the sand: for him to remain in Formula 1 beyond 2026, a minimum change of a 60/40 power unit split is required. With the F1 2026 driver contracts situation already making headlines — including Verstappen's well-documented exit clause — the stakes of the regulatory impasse could not be higher.

Cautious optimism and a vote of confidence

Despite his strong public stance, the 28-year-old has been careful to distinguish between pressure and trust. Asked whether he is urging Red Bull to push harder for new rules or simply awaiting a decision from the governing body, Verstappen made his position clear.

"I mean, to be honest, I think these discussions are ongoing, so that's not up to me now. But, you know, I fully believe and trust that, on the FIA side, they will make the right call for motorsport and F1 in general in the future, so I leave that up to them."

He added that the process itself has already yielded encouraging signs: "I think I've said everything that I wanted to say, and at the same time, I think what has already been very good this year is that we have been involved in the discussions, and they've been a lot more open. Actually having meetings with them was great. I think that's exactly what we need to do in the future as well. Then, I think this could have been avoided a little bit, but yeah, I think a lot of positive steps have already been taken this year for the future."

Opposition from within the paddock

Whether regulatory change will materialise in time for next season, however, remains far from certain. Both Ferrari and Audi are reported to be opposed to any amendment to the power unit regulations until 2028, adding a significant political dimension to what is already a complex technical debate. Whether that opposition can be overcome — or whether the FIA opts to act unilaterally — is the defining question that now hangs over the sport's short-term future.

Verstappen throws his weight behind FIA amid power unit debate