Max Verstappen did not hide his surprise with the strategies used in position battles in the 2026 Formula 1 season. For the Red Bull Racing driver, certain overtakes happen in a way that is not very representative of what he considers a real battle.
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The current dynamic requires drivers to manage the available energy to attack, without compromising their own defense in the following laps. According to Verstappen, this has caused the so-called ‘yo-yo races,’ with positions being exchanged repeatedly during battles.
The Dutchman explained that, in some situations, he can gain positions without even needing to attack directly: “Sometimes, it’s very funny when you see the people in front of you fighting, using the battery, and you, without doing anything, just pass them,” Verstappen said.
For the four-time world champion, the opening of the wings and the reduction of drag while a car follows another facilitate this type of overtaking. Verstappen said he prefers to get close to an opponent and try the maneuver at the braking for a corner, rather than simply using the energy to overtake in the middle of a straight.
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“Now, the overtaking happens in the middle of the straight, so it’s a bit strange,” he assessed. Verstappen also said that fans who follow the battles more deeply understand the difference, while those less familiar with the races may interpret the higher number of position changes as something positive.
“The problem is that the true racing fans understand. The fans who don’t follow as much think it’s cool because they see more overtakes, but it’s not real. That’s not what racing is about,” concluded the Red Bull driver.
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