F1 ‘cancel team boss meeting’ as Max Verstappen frustrations grow after painful Grand Prix

Max Verstappen has been a vocal critic of the new F1 rules in 2026 and the Red Bull driver was forced to retire from the Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday

A scheduled meeting between Formula 1 chiefs to assess the sport’s new changes has reportedly been scrapped. The decision is set to further irritate four-time World Champion Max Verstappen, who has voiced his frustration at the new F1 regulations for 2026.

The Red Bull driver launched another attack on the new generation of Formula 1 cars following his retirement from Sunday’s Chinese Grand Prix. The 28-year-old has claimed they will “eventually ruin the sport”.

Verstappen has been an outspoken critic of the 2026 rules and the cars which are powered by hybrid engines and depend on more electrical energy than previously.

READ MORE: Max Verstappen kicks off over ‘joke’ F1 cars as Red Bull retirement reason revealedREAD MORE: George Russell given reality check by Lewis Hamilton during private chat at Chinese GP

DRS has also been substituted by ‘overtake mode’, and battery management has become an essential element of racing, resulting in considerably more overtaking; though critics argue it is artificial.

It emerged before the season that the FIA and FOM had arranged a post-Shanghai review meeting with team principals.

It is understood that this move was to discuss early impressions of the new regulations and to assess whether any immediate modifications were required.

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It is reported the meeting was prompted by worries after testing on the new regulations fell short, and the new cars delivered a disappointing spectacle. But the Race now reports this meeting will not take place.

The report suggests the situation has shifted following a more promising picture of events in Shanghai this weekend. It is understood that the consensus in the paddock is that certain aspects do not require addressing.

These include the qualifying spectacle and certain overtly complicated elements of the regulation. Nevertheless, these are said to be insufficient concerns to trigger a rush towards any hasty, knee-jerk changes.

Rather, it is felt that holding back and formulating a more considered action plan is the wiser approach.

It is reported that the entertaining sprint and main races in China have given F1 bosses some reassurance that the quality of racing on show is far removed from the catastrophe that many had feared during pre-season testing.

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The report also notes that China was vastly different to Australia, which was held on one of the most energy-starved circuits on the calendar. It is further suggested that gaining a deeper understanding from the third round in Japan will provide a clearer indication of how the 2026 cars will perform.

The cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grand Prix’s has now created a longer window before Miami to assess and implement any necessary adjustments. Verstappen is amongst those who feel the current state of the sport is not what F1 racing should represent.

Following a dreadful weekend in China, Verstappen said: “I think [FOM and the FIA] understand where we are coming from as drivers, and I think I speak for most of the drivers. Some, of course, will say it’s great because they are winning races, which is fair enough. When you have an advantage, why would you give that up? Because you never know if you’re going to have a good car again.

“But if you just speak to most of the drivers, it’s not what we like. I don’t think it’s what the real F1 fans like. Maybe some fans like it, but they don’t understand racing. But hopefully we can get rid of this… It will eventually ruin the sport. It will come and bite them back in the ass.

“For me, as long as we can just communicate with them and make sure that we are working on some solutions that will help a lot, but it’s also going to be very difficult for everyone to agree. Of course, not everyone needs to agree, but most of the people have to agree to make changes. But, like I said, it’s political. Some people feel they have the advantage now, and, of course, they want to use that, rightly.”

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