Four-time world champion Max Verstappen has insisted he is "motivated" for the new Formula 1 season despite revealing concerns about the sport's new regulations.
Speaking in Bahrain on Thursday at the second of three testing events arranged to give teams and drivers the opportunity to adapt to their new machinery, Verstappen said he was finding the cars less fun to drive.
But McLaren rival and reigning world champion Lando Norris offered a counter view by saying he was taking enjoyment from getting to grips with the all-new challengers, adding: "Any driver can go and find something else to do. It's not like he has to be here, or any driver has to be here."
In what is widely considered to be the biggest regulation change in the sport's history, F1 has introduced new chassis and power units, with a major focus on becoming more sustainable.
The new engines, which rely more on electrical energy than the previous generation, require drivers to use new techniques to charge their batteries in order to be able to achieve optimum lap times.
Verstappen said: "As a driver, the feeling is not very Formula 1 like. It feels a bit more like Formula E on steroids,"
"But the rules are the same for everyone, so you have to deal with that. And that's also not my problem, because I'm all for that, equal chances, I don't mind that.
"But as a pure driver, I enjoy driving flat out, and at the moment you cannot drive like that. There's a lot going on. A lot of what you do as a driver in terms of inputs have a massive effect on the energy side of things.
"And for me, that's just not Formula 1, because maybe it's then better to drive Formula E, right? Because that's all about energy, efficiency and management. That's what they stand for.
"So yeah, driving wise, not so fun. But at the same time, I also know what is at stake with the team, our own engine, and seeing the excitement of the people. Of course, when I sit in the car, I will always give it my very best. They know that. But, excitement level's not so high, to drive."
Despite his reservations about the technology, Verstappen said he and Red Bull have extra motivation given they are manufacturing their own engine for the first time since joining the sport in 2005.
During last month's shakedown in Barcelona and two days so far in Bahrain, the engine has appeared to perform well above the expectations of most in the paddock.
Verstappen told Your Site F1: "You can't really say what is good or bad, but I think the positive thing is that we are not breaking down and everyone is super proud of the whole project, because it's immense.
"It's not an easy feat to get right. We are heading in the right direction. Everyone is very motivated, naturally, to try to get this project started. Every day we are learning a lot."
Offering a contrary opinion to Verstappen's remarks after his Thursday running, 2025 champion Norris said he was finding the new challengers "a lot of fun, "I really enjoyed it", before quipping: "So, yeah, if he wants to retire, he can retire."
Norris added: "Formula 1 changes all the time. Sometimes it's a bit better to drive, sometimes it's not as good to drive.
"We get paid a stupid amount of money to drive, so you can't really complain at the end of the day. Any driver can go and find something else to do. It's not like he has to be here, or any driver has to be here.
"It's a challenge, but it's a good, fun challenge for the engineers, for the drivers.
"It's different. You have to drive it in a different way and understand things differently and manage things differently, but I still get to drive cars and travel the world and have a lot of fun, so nothing to complain about."
Reflecting on the first weeks of testing the cars, Norris said: "It's early days of a regulation that's meant to be a good amount slower. But if we fast forward to the end of this year and head to next year, we're going to be going a lot quicker by then.
"Everyone can make their own opinions and have their own opinions, and say and decide what they want to do. No one should complain about that or be upset about it. Every driver has their own opinions. He didn't like it, and I like it."
Verstappen also explained that his reservations about the new cars are not down to a fear that he - or other top drivers - will not be able to adapt.
He added: "In general, in the history of the sport, the fastest or best drivers, normally they win the championship, or they end up in the best team.
"But I think all the good drivers will be able to adapt to it. That's not the problem, but it's just that the whole way of racing is changing, and I would say less clear.
"The good drivers will always be on top and of course the people that have a bit more capacity around just driving fast will probably be up there.
"But that's also not what I'm trying to say because that's also not my worry, it's just the general driving experience."
Test One: Friday 13th February
Test Two: Wednesday 18th, Thursday 19th, Friday 20th February
Watch every race of the 2026 F1 season live on Your Site, starting with the Australian Grand Prix from March 6-8.
