FEBRUARY 26, 2026

Da Costa hits back at Verstappen's Formula E jibe

Former Formula E champion Antonio Felix da Costa has responded to criticism of Formula 1's new regulations, after Max Verstappen likened the 2026 cars to "Formula E on steroids".

Speaking to France's Auto Hebdo, da Costa defended the role of energy management in modern racing.

In Formula E, energy management isn't a constraint but rather an integral part of race strategy, he said.

Formula 1 drivers learn a lot about energy management, driving techniques and the software we've used in Formula E over the last ten years. Many Formula 1 drivers work with the teams on the simulator. I've even been contacted myself.

The Portuguese driver, who won the 2019-20 Formula E title, argued that electrification in F1 is a natural consequence of broader automotive trends.

It's the car manufacturers who pay, he said. "If they sell electric or hybrid cars, they can only race with those technologies. It's a natural evolution, and F1 drivers will have to adapt. If they don't like it, they can stay home.

I also love V10s, V12s and all the rest. But if they're no longer being manufactured, if they're engines from the Stone Age, there's not much we can do.

With Formula E preparing to introduce its new Gen4 car, series chief Jeff Dodds has suggested Verstappen might be tempted to try it.

I think when he sees Gen4, we might be able to convince him, da Costa said.

He insisted Verstappen's comments were not necessarily a direct attack on Formula E itself.

"I don't think it was an attack on Formula E. He meant that Formula E has its own way of racing and F1 has its own, but the new regulations mean there's now a middle ground.

We know what Max is like. He always wants to drive fast cars and push to the limit all the time.

(GMM)