Four-time champion Max Verstappen argued the 2026 Formula 1 cars make it easier to reach the limit in qualifying after stand-in drivers Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda ran within a tenth of a second of regular drivers at the Dutch GP.
Verstappen pointed to the cars’ energy demands, which he said smooth out one-lap efforts and narrow margins. Lawson, substituting for an injured Daniel Ricciardo at Red Bull, was just 0.115s off Verstappen in Q3, while Tsunoda—making his first appearance in the VCARB-03 after minimal simulator time—missed Arvid Lindblad’s Racing Bulls time by 0.102s in Q2. Verstappen contrasted this with past seasons, where gaps between teammates were routinely larger.
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella pushed back, calling the 2026 cars harder to drive due to inconsistent grip, power deployment quirks, and aerodynamic unpredictability. He noted drivers still face sudden loss of reference points, wind sensitivity, and inconsistent braking behavior, making consistency at the limit a greater challenge than in 2025.
The debate highlights how the new rules have blurred the line between driver skill and car performance, with intra-team gaps shrinking across the grid this season.
