P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Lando Norris has given a strong response to Max Verstappen’s 2026 car criticism
Reigning Formula 1 world champion Lando Norris responded to Max Verstappen’s criticism of the 2026 cars by suggesting Verstappen could retire if he didn’t like them. The new car regulations for the 2026 season have received mixed reviews from drivers after testing at Barcelona and Bahrain. Verstappen described the new cars as “Formula E on steroids” and criticized the regulations as “anti-racing”, even hinting at retirement if he didn’t enjoy driving them. Norris, on the other hand, defended the new F1 cars, acknowledging that they have some similarities to F2 but emphasizing that Formula 1 is always evolving. He expressed his enjoyment of driving the new cars, highlighting the unique challenges they present for drivers and engineers. As the first Bahrain test wrapped up, the drivers’ contrasting opinions set the stage for further evaluation and adjustments in the upcoming testing sessions.
