Four-time world champion Max Verstappen said Thursday he is not enjoying driving the new generation of Formula One cars, joking that playing Mario Kart feels more realistic than using a racing simulator.
The Red Bull Racing driver made the remark after a challenging start to the season at the Australian Grand Prix, where he crashed during qualifying and started from 20th on the grid before finishing sixth.
The latest Formula One cars feature a 50-50 split between conventional engine power and electrical energy, requiring drivers to carefully manage battery usage and energy harvesting during races. They also include features such as straight-line mode, active aerodynamics, and overtake and boost buttons.
Verstappen suggested the complexity makes the experience feel more like a video game.
“I swapped the simulator for my Nintendo Switch. I’m practicing with Mario Kart, actually. Finding the mushrooms is going quite well, the blue shells are a bit more difficult,” he joked.
Despite his frustrations, Verstappen said he is looking forward to competing in the Nürburgring 24 Hours this year and hopes to race at iconic tracks such as Nürburgring Nordschleife, Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the future.
“I wish I had a bit more fun for sure,” Verstappen said, adding that while he enjoys working with his team and engineers, he currently finds the driving experience less satisfying.
Still, the Dutch driver expressed hope that ongoing discussions with Formula One officials and the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile could lead to improvements in the regulations.