Max Verstappen, Red Bull driver, has shared his impressions on the small performance differences between teammates during the 2026 season. According to him, the new generations of cars are easier to control at the limits, which makes it easier for drivers to be closer to each other in qualifying.
Recently, during the Dutch Grand Prix, Liam Lawson qualified eighth, just a tenth behind Verstappen, in a race that marked his debut with the team to replace Isack Hadjar. His teammate, Yuki Tsunoda, also showed good performance, achieving a similar time to Arvid Lindblad, the team’s main driver.
Verstappen commented that the difficulties in qualifying have decreased with the new cars, which allow drivers to find the limits more easily. ‘It’s much easier to find the limit with these cars, as there is less variability in race conditions,’ the Dutchman indicated.
However, Verstappen’s opinion is not universally shared. Andrea Stella, McLaren director, pointed out that the new electric motor regulation has added complexity to driving, stating that driving conditions can be demanding. ‘Our drivers have classified the cars as difficult to control,’ Stella said.
The debate over whether the cars are easier or harder to control will continue as the season progresses. With such a high level of competition, drivers will have to constantly adapt to stay on top.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
