Verstappen’s ignored 2023 warning as Piastri responds to ‘close call’ – roundup

Oliver Harden 04 Apr 2026 7:00 PM

A close-up shot of Max Verstappen with a surprise facial expression

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen is a four-time F1 world champion

Saturday’s fast-paced F1 news includes Max Verstappen’s 2023 warning about the F1 2026 rules resurfacing as Oscar Piastri responds after a “pretty close call” saw the McLaren driver hit with an official warning from the FIA.

Let’s fly through the day’s main headlines at the speed of light…

Revisited: What Max Verstappen said about the F1 2026 rules in 2023

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen has been a vocal critic of the F1 2026 rules, warning that his unhappiness with the regulations could drive him away from Formula 1.

Sour grapes? Not when he’s been complaining about the regulations for nearly three years.

Revisit what Verstappen said about the rules back in the summer of 2023.

Oscar Piastri admits to ‘pretty close call’ after official FIA warning

McLaren driver Oscar Piastri has joined calls for an urgent tweak to the F1 2026 rules on safety grounds following Oliver Bearman’s accident at the Japanese Grand Prix.

It comes after Piastri himself had a “pretty close call” with Nico Hulkenberg’s Audi at Suzuka last weekend.

Piastri was given an official warning by the FIA after impeding Hulkenberg on the approach to 130R in FP3.

Max Verstappen rules out switch to rallying after F1 career

Max Verstappen has ruled out following in the footsteps of his father Jos by taking up rallying after his F1 career.

Verstappen Sr won the Belgian Rally Championship in 2025, marking his first title triumph since he triumphed in the 2008 Le Mans Series.

The Red Bull F1 driver says rallying presents “too high of a risk” for him.

Jacques Villeneuve poses Michael Schumacher theory after F1 rivalry

Jacques Villeneuve believes his status as the son of a Ferrari icon may have added an extra edge to his rivalry with Michael Schumacher.

Villeneuve, the son of the late Gilles, was crowned the 1997 world champion following a fierce battle with Schumacher, who was in his second season with Ferrari.

Schumacher went on to win five consecutive titles with Ferrari from 2000.