Max Verstappen Sold On F1 Being Mario Kart IRL: 'I Swapped My Simulator For A Nintendo Switch'

Last Updated:March 12, 2026, 15:42 IST

Verstappen jokes F1’s new rules feel like Mario Kart, swapping his simulator for a Nintendo Switch as drivers clash over energy-heavy cars and boost-style race features.

It’s (unofficially) official: the new era of Formula One might just be Mario Kart in real life.

At least, that’s the vibe according to Max Verstappen. The four-time world champion has doubled down on his criticism of F1’s sweeping new regulations — and this time he did it with a Nintendo twist.

Verstappen had already branded the new generation of cars “Formula E on steroids" during pre-season testing.

Speaking at the Shanghai Grand Prix press conference, he leaned further into the joke, claiming his preparation now looks a little less like a high-tech simulator and a lot more like a gaming session.

“I swapped the simulator for my Nintendo Switch," Verstappen quipped. “I’m practising with Mario Kart, actually. Finding the mushrooms is going quite well, the blue shells are a bit more difficult."

The jab reflects the radical shift introduced under F1’s latest regulations — where power units split output almost 50-50 between internal combustion and electric power.

This means energy harvesting, battery management and boost deployment now play a much bigger role in how drivers race.

Throw in features like straight-line mode, active aerodynamics and push-to-pass-style boost buttons, and it’s easy to see why some drivers feel like they’re racing with virtual power-ups.

(a fan edit from X, equating the Australian GP to Mario Kart)

Charles Leclerc’s opportunistic overtake in the season-opening Australian Grand Prix — jokingly dubbed to have felt like a “mushroom" by the Monagasque himself — has already become the kind of red shell Verstappen seems eager to fire at the rulemakers.

Despite storming from 20th on the grid to sixth in Melbourne, Verstappen admitted the driving experience hasn’t exactly been a joyride.

“I wish I had a bit more fun for sure," he said. “It’s a bit conflicted because I don’t really enjoy driving the car, but I do enjoy working with all the people in the team and from the engine department."

Electric Power at the Centre of Controversy

The 2026 regulations represent one of the most dramatic technical overhauls in F1 history. Both the chassis and the power units have been redesigned, with electric energy now accounting for roughly 50 percent of the total power output.

That shift has forced drivers into unfamiliar techniques. Some now downshift on straights to harvest energy, carefully juggling battery levels and boost systems: a strategic balancing act that critics argue takes away from pure flat-out racing.

A Grid Torn Apart

Verstappen isn’t the only driver questioning the new direction.

Lando Norris warned that energy-heavy racing could turn chaotic, with cars constantly swapping positions depending on battery levels. Esteban Ocon went even further, calling the new cars “painful" to drive.

Even Cadillac driver Sergio Perez joined the conversation in Shanghai, echoing Verstappen’s comparison to Mario Kart, effectively tossing another red shell into the debate.

Verstappen Remains Optimistic Though

Despite the jokes and criticism, Verstappen isn’t completely hitting the brakes on the new era just yet — confirming that he has no desire to exit F1 either.

“No, I don’t want to leave. But I also hope that it gets better," Verstapped reassured.

“I’ve had discussions with F1 and the FIA, and I think we are working towards something that will improve everything."

For now, though, the grid seems stuck in a strange hybrid race:  somewhere between a Grand Prix and Rainbow Road.

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