MAX VERSTAPPEN once again hinted at his retirement as he called on the FIA to produce “Formula One on steroids”.
This is not the first-time the seven-time world champion has slammed the sport’s new regulations.
F1’s new era of cars are more reliant than ever on battery power and in-car management after the most dramatic rules and regulations overhaul in ten years.
Verstappen previously described them as “Formula E on steroids” and “not pure F1.”
It was not a bad day in the office for him in the season opener in Melbourne where he finished sixth-place after starting all the way in 20th due to a crash in qualifying.
Asked, and not for the first time already this year, whether he would continue, he again offered no guarantees.
He said: “I love racing, but you can only take so much, right?
“I think they’re willing to listen, the FIA and F1, but I just hope there is some action.
“I’m not the only one saying it. A lot of people are saying the same, be it the drivers or the fans.
“We just want the best for the sport. It’s not that we are critical, just to be critical. We are critical for a reason.
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“We want it to be Formula 1, you know, proper Formula 1 on steroids, but today, again, that was not the case.”
George Russell won the race as Mercedes sealed a one-two with Kimi Antonelli second.
Charles Leclerc came third ahead of fourth-place Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris who claimed fifth for the defending constructors’ champions.
Verstappen added on the race: “Chaos….yeah, honestly, I don’t really have the right words for it.
“For me, I passed a lot of cars because we were two seconds a lap faster. But, I don’t really know what word to use.”
Pressed on whether F1 should be worried about the racing, he added: “I think what they should worry about are the rules.
“They ask questions, and I give my opinion of what I would like to see and what I think is better for the sport, because I do care about it.
“I do love racing, and I want it to be better than this. So let’s see what we can do.
“I hope that even during this year, we can come up with some different solutions so it becomes more enjoyable for everyone.”
