Max Verstappen admitted that he didn’t enjoy driving the 2026 Formula 1 car in the simulator because it felt too different from the real thing.
He said the simulator version of the new car doesn’t help him stay motivated in F1, and that practicing in it wasn’t very useful for preparing for the season.
Verstappen’s comments highlight how the 2026 cars and rules are a big change from previous years, and that even top drivers sometimes struggle to get the same feel or confidence from a simulator as they do in real track testing.
Despite this, he still plans to focus on adapting and performing well once the real season begins.