Max Verstappen’s scathing critique of Formula 1’s 2026 regulations has unexpectedly delivered a publicity windfall for Formula E, according to the all-electric championship’s CEO Jeff Dodds. The four-time world champion’s disparaging comparison of the new F1 cars to “Formula E on steroids” during pre-season testing has sparked increased interest in the electric racing series, contradicting his apparent intention to diminish the sport.
Dodds revealed to Sports Business Journal that Formula E experienced a notable surge in digital engagement following Verstappen’s comments in Bahrain. “The weekend when Max talked about us, a load more people went online and viewed our videos and looked at our races and understood a bit more about the championship,” the British executive explained. The series has gained over 50,000 new social media followers this year, with Dodds crediting the Red Bull driver’s remarks for raising awareness about electrification in motorsport.
The 28-year-old Dutchman has been consistently vocal about his dissatisfaction with F1’s new technical regulations, which place greater emphasis on electrical energy management while removing the MGU-H component from power units. Verstappen described the driving experience as “not very F1-like” and criticized energy harvesting techniques such as lift-and-coast as “anti-driving” rather than authentic racing. His complaints date back to 2023 when he declared the regulations would be “pretty terrible” based on simulator data.
Despite being contracted to Red Bull through 2028, speculation continues regarding Verstappen’s potential early retirement due to his frustration with the current formula. Previous rumors suggested performance-based exit clauses in his contract, though Red Bull has never officially confirmed such provisions. As the championship progresses and Red Bull faces ongoing struggles with the new regulations, questions persist about whether Verstappen might seek an early departure from his current deal.