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<\/p>\nFour-time world champion Max Verstappen criticized Formula One\u2019s new-era machinery after the second day of preseason testing in Bahrain, branding the redesigned cars \u201canti-racing.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Dutch driver logged 136 laps for Red Bull on Wednesday and posted the second-fastest time of the day before handing over duties to new teammate Isack Hadjar on Thursday. Despite the mileage and early pace, Verstappen made clear he is far from impressed.<\/p>\n
Speaking at his first news conference of the season, he questioned the direction of this year\u2019s sweeping regulation changes, which have forced every team into a full rethink of chassis and power units with a stronger emphasis on energy management. For Verstappen, the shift risks dulling the wheel-to-wheel edge that defines Formula One.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo drive, they are not a lot of fun, to be honest,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would say the right word is management. It\u2019s not very Formula One-like. It feels a bit more like Formula E on steroids.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut the rules are the same for everyone, so you have to deal with that.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a pure driver, I enjoy driving flat out and at the moment you cannot drive like that. There\u2019s a lot going on.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of what you do as a driver, in terms of inputs, has a massive effect on the energy side of things. For me, that\u2019s just not Formula One.<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe it\u2019s then better to drive Formula E, right? Because that\u2019s all about energy, efficiency and management.\u201d<\/p>\n
Verstappen said he does like the look of the new cars.<\/p>\n
\u201cHonestly, the proportion of the car looks good, I think,\u201d he said. \u201cThat\u2019s not the problem. It\u2019s just everything else that is a bit, for me, anti-racing.\u201d<\/p>\n
He tempered his criticism when it came to the engineers and designers working under the new regulations.<\/p>\n
Red Bull have dispensed with the Honda engines of previous years and are competing this season for the first time with their own factory-built power units.<\/p>\n
\u201cOn the other hand, I also know how much work has been going on in the background, also from the engine side, for the guys,\u201d he said. \u201cSo it\u2019s not always the nicest thing to say, but I also want to be realistic as a driver.\u201d<\/p>\n
On Wednesday, seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton also weighed in, calling on the FIA, the sport\u2019s governing body, to resolve differing interpretations of the new regulations to ensure all teams start \u201con an equal playing field.\u201d<\/p>\n
On track Thursday, Charles Leclerc topped the timesheets for Ferrari with 128 laps.<\/p>\n
World champion Lando Norris, who was quickest on Wednesday, was just behind after putting his McLaren through 139 laps, while George Russell was third-fastest for Mercedes.<\/p>\n
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