Max Verstappen has described how he feels F1 drivers are "not allowed" to make the difference in grands prix due to power unit demands.
With drivers having to walk the energy tightrope in 2026, with 50% of their available power coming from the battery systems, they have had to adapt to the new style of racing, ensuring they do not deplete their battery to such an extent that it leaves them exposed to rivals.
The energy deployment itself is actually handled by on-board computers, with the algorithms learning as a driver makes laps, meaning drivers must be smooth, precise, and consistent on the throttle and with steering inputs so as not to feed 'bad' data into the algorithm to disrupt its learning.
It is something four-time champion Verstappen feels does not allow drivers to make a "difference."
"With your throttle input, by being faster sometimes in the corners, you lose more on the straights afterwards," Verstappen told media, including RacingNews365.
"Which is not how it should be. I mean, in every kind of racing series, if you gain time in the corners, that's just free lap-time.
"You would then not be penalised on the straight normally, where now you really have to think about: 'Oh, I have to use a different gear,' or a different braking technique or the way you go back on the throttle.
"You need to be different, and basically it is just neutralising a lot of lap time, and that's why I guess in general, you see a lot of close battles between teams and team-mates, because you just cannot make a difference.
"Like you're not allowed to make a difference because it will just penalise you on the next straight."
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