Audi Formula 1 team principal Jonathan Wheatley suggests Max Verstappen's strong criticism of the 2026 regulations partly reflects Red Bull's struggles in the early races. Verstappen labeled the new cars as 'anti-racing' and compared them to 'Formula E on steroids' after the China Grand Prix. Wheatley, a former Red Bull sporting director, views the racing positively.
Jonathan Wheatley, now Audi F1 team principal, commented on Max Verstappen's frustration with the 2026 Formula 1 regulations. Verstappen has long warned of energy saving issues and recently called the cars 'terrible,' likening the racing to 'playing Mario Kart' during the China Grand Prix. He stated: “It’s terrible, if someone likes this, then you really don't know what racing is about. It’s not fun at all. [...] For me, it's just a joke.” Red Bull faced difficulties over the first two weekends with their RB22 car, which Wheatley links to Verstappen's discontent as a four-time world champion from his former team. In contrast, Wheatley highlighted positive feedback from Ferrari drivers. He noted: “If you spoke to the two Ferrari drivers, they said it was a brilliant day. [...] They raced beautifully, cleanly. I enjoyed watching it. There are battles going on in the field that I think are hugely encouraging. I think you can understand Max's comments and that's because of where he finds himself.” Lewis Hamilton, who won in China ahead of teammate Charles Leclerc, described it as one of his most enjoyable races. The FIA faces calls to address erratic starts, safety concerns, and energy harvesting in qualifying, which Wheatley says reduces excitement in fast corners. Audi, attracted by the 50:50 power split, is engaging with the FIA during the April break before Miami. Wheatley affirmed: “We've been open and engaging with the FIA [...] We're trying to see if there's something we can do to support them. If anything needs to change, we'll try to do our best to help the FIA make that happen.”
