Max Verstappen has shared his verdict on the audio recordings of the 2026 Formula 1 engines, claiming they sound "crisp".
2026 will bring in a new wave of regulations to the championship, which will see power units with a 50/50 split between internal combustion engine and electric power.
Some teams, including Aston Martin with the upcoming Honda engine and Mercedes, have shared the sounds of the new power units on social media. While we are yet to hear Red Bull's new engine, which will mark the start of Red Bull Powertrains in collaboration with Ford, Verstappen shared his thoughts on the Talking Bull podcast.
"Yeah. I mean, it sounded good. Of course, you hear it on a dyno, but it sounded crisp. I'm not sure they actually developed on the noise, but it made a good noise."
The four-time champion previously shared some of his hesitations about the new regulations, revealing that he would be open to leaving the series if he didn't find them "fun".
“My contract runs until 2028, but it will depend on the new rules in 2026, and if they are nice and fun," he told PA about his F1 future. "If they are not fun, then I don’t really see myself hanging around.
“Winning seven titles is not on my mind. I know that there are three more years after this one, so it could be possible, but it is not something I need to do before I leave the sport. I can leave the sport easily tomorrow."
The Red Bull driver added: "I have a lot of other passions; other racing categories, I want to spend more time with the family, and live off my own schedule. And in my mind, I know if I close the chapter, it is closed. I don’t see myself stopping and coming back. Once I stop, I really stop."
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