Max Verstappen humorously claims he has abandoned his Formula 1 simulator in favor of Mario Kart sessions, voicing frustration with the sport’s incoming 2026 cars.
The Dutch driver has repeatedly criticized the new regulations, describing the vehicles as “Formula E on steroids.” During the Australian Grand Prix opener, Charles Leclerc likened his duel with George Russell to grabbing a mushroom power-up in Mario Kart for its sudden speed surge.
Simulator Edge and Gaming Practice
Ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix, Verstappen fielded questions on whether simulator time provides a greater advantage now. He quipped: “I found a cheaper solution; I swapped the simulator for my Nintendo Switch. I’m practicing with Mario Kart, actually. Finding the mushrooms is going quite well, the blue shells a bit more difficult. I’m working on it. The rocket is still not there, it’s coming!”
Contract Commitment Amid Retirement Hints
The 28-year-old stays bound to Red Bull through 2028 on a £40 million annual deal. After starting 20th and finishing sixth in Australia, he hinted at retirement. F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali voiced confidence in his retention, prompting Verstappen to affirm his plans.
“Yeah, I mean, I don’t want to leave really,” he stated. “I wish I had a bit more fun for sure, but I’m also doing other stuff that is a lot of fun. I mean, I get to race the Nordschleife. Hope in the coming years I can do Spa, hopefully Le Mans. So, I’m combining stuff to find other stuff that I find really fun as well.”
He added: “So I have a lot of distractions at the same time. Positive distractions I would call it. But at the same time, it’s a bit conflicting because I don’t really enjoy driving the car. But I do enjoy working with all the people in the team and from the engine department as well. Yeah, it’s almost like a bit of a mind … I can’t swear!”
Discussions for Regulation Tweaks
Verstappen revealed talks with Formula One Management (FOM) and the FIA on potential adjustments. “I don’t want to leave, but I also hope of course that it gets better,” he noted. “And I know, I mean, I’ve had discussions with FOM and FIA. I definitely hope not for the next few years, but I hope already for next year we can already make a decent improvement. But there are a few options that we are discussing.”
