David Coulthard has said Formula 1 drivers only care about being fast and being first as he casts aside Max Verstappen’s “anti-racing” take on the new regulations.
The latest era of F1 has well and truly kicked off with the first of two pre-season tests having taken place at the Bahrain International Circuit, last week.
All the 11 teams took to the track for the first time after a five-day private shakedown in Spain, in January, with Red Bull completing a mammoth 343 laps over the course of three days in Bahrain.
And while the Milton-Keynes-based team look like the benchmark of the field, as of now, Verstappen isn’t entirely pleased with the RB22.
The four-time F1 Champion called the incumbent rules as being “anti-racing” and feeling more like “Formula E on steroids” than the pinnacle of single-seater, open-wheel motorsport.
“I would say the right word is management,” he told media including Motorsport Week. “The feeling is not very F1-like. It feels a bit more like Formula E on steroids. As a pure driver, I enjoy driving flat out, and, at the moment, you cannot drive like that.”
The inherent characteristics of the 2026 power units, which now dictate a 50-50 split between electrical and combustion propulsion, has created an emphasis on battery management.
This means drivers have had to seek higher revs in slow corners and large braking zones to recharge a quickly depleting battery pack. Race craft for the likes of Verstappen, hence, is now more about efficient lift and coast rather than maximising outright pace.
Max Verstappen only cares about being ‘fast and being first’
The 28-year-old’s comments have re-fueled rumors about him wanting to quit the sport sooner rather than later.
Verstappen has been pretty vocal about how he prioritises having fun on track over chasing a substantial tally of titles. But Coulthard swept those apprehensions under the rug by suggesting that all F1 drivers, including Verstappen, only care about winning on track.
“At the end of the day, when it comes to racing, when the lights go out, you just want to be fast and you want to be first,” he told talkSPORT.
“He’s [Max] in, believe it or not, his 12th season of Formula 1. So, he’s been around for a few years. He’s built the respect of his competitors. He’s got the right to have an opinion in terms of the driving experience. But he’ll not be thinking about that when he gets to Melbourne.
“That’s the wonderful thing about racing. Once all the talking stops, it’s about the stopwatch and it’s about the chequered flag.”
Mercedes could be the biggest thorn in Verstappen and Red Bull’s side
Max Verstappen is acutely aware that a ploy for a fifth F1 title isn’t going to be a walk in the park.
While he does have to battle his own notions about the driveability of the 2026 cars, competitive balance in terms of outright performance may also not be on his side.
Coulthard revealed that Verstappen is wary of the threat Mercedes can pose – especially with their power units, meaning as many as four teams on the grid could be a thorn in the Dutchman’s side.
“I spoke to Max a couple of days ago and when I asked him ‘Who are your competitors?’ he went anyone with a Mercedes engine,” Coulthard recalled.
“Williams look a little bit on the back foot. So right now if you had to place a bet, then probably George Russell for world champion is not a bad bet.”
That said, the 13-time Grand Prix winner has warned against writing Verstappen off.
“But never write off Max,” he insisted.
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