- Verstappen says a proposed engine rule change makes staying in F1 more likely.
- FIA wants to shift power balance between combustion and electrical for 2027.
- Manufacturer politics could still block the change before it is formally ratified.
Max Verstappen says proposed changes to Formula 1’s engine rules for 2027 make it more likely he will stay in the sport. The four-time world champion made the comments in Montreal ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix.
The FIA has agreed in principle to shift the power balance between the internal combustion engine and the electrical recovery system from a 50-50 split to a 60-40 split in favour of the combustion engine.
Verstappen has spent much of the 2026 season questioning his future in the sport. His central complaint has been that the current regulations force drivers to manage battery energy rather than race. The proposed shift addresses that directly.
“It’s definitely heading into a very positive direction,” Verstappen told Motorsport.com. “I think it’s like the minimum I was hoping for, and I think it’s really nice that that’s what they want to do.”
Asked directly whether the changes make him more likely to stay in F1, he left little room for doubt.
“Yes, definitely,” he said. “I just want a good product in Formula 1, and that will for sure improve the product… So that means that I’m happier, and that’s what I want to be able to continue in Formula 1.”
What the 60-40 split actually means
Under the proposed changes, the combustion engine’s power output would rise by roughly 50kW (67 bhp) due to an increase in fuel flow.
The electrical recovery system’s deployment power would fall by the same amount. The aim is to let cars run harder for longer without drivers needing to lift and coast to recharge the battery.
Lifting and coasting has been among the most common complaints from drivers this season. The current engine formula demands it in certain parts of circuits, which disrupts the flow of racing.
For Verstappen, who has argued that the current rules strip away what he values most about driving, the shift is welcome, even if it falls short of the V8 return he recently floated publicly.
The changes are not yet formal. Power unit manufacturers must vote on them, and the World Motor Sport Council must ratify them. The FIA has described them only as “agreed in principle.”
Politics behind the scenes
Verstappen was careful about declaring the matter settled. Technical discussions are still ongoing, and some manufacturers are pushing for solutions closer to what they already have, which could give them a competitive edge.
Verstappen was direct about where he stands on that.
“That’s why we have to wait and see until it’s fully confirmed,” he said. “But that definitely needs to happen.”
Ford’s global racing director Mark Rushbrook backed the direction of the proposals. He called it “a good step toward making the racing and the product on track better.”
That public support strengthens Red Bull’s position as it pushes for the changes to be confirmed in full.
Verstappen credits his growing voice in the sport
Verstappen said he met with the FIA, Formula One Management and fellow drivers early in the season to raise his concerns. He acknowledged that his track record has helped amplify his influence, but framed his involvement not as personal lobbying but as speaking in the interest of the sport.
“It’s just great that they’re open-minded and they listen to the drivers,” he said. “Because I think we speak, or at least most of us speak, in the interest of the sport. We just want to make it a better product.”
He stopped short of committing definitively to staying, but left the door open.
“I’m happy where I’m at,” he said. “I see the team really progressing, and that’s also very exciting to see. And for me, I always wanted to continue anyway, but I always wanted to see change.”
Whether the 60-40 split gets fully ratified will likely determine whether that desire to continue translates into a confirmed future in the sport.
