Vitantonio Liuzzi, an FIA Driver Steward for the 2026 Formula 1 season, has provided insight into Max Verstappen’s racing approach. Liuzzi described Verstappen as a ‘war machine’ due to his ability to consistently operate at the limits of the regulations. This style presents a unique challenge for race officials during incident reviews.
Liuzzi, a former Formula 1 driver himself, noted that Verstappen’s precise positioning and deep understanding of the rulebook make stewarding incidents involving him particularly difficult. Verstappen often positions his car in ways that are uncomfortable for officials to evaluate.
The FIA steward highlighted Verstappen’s skill in turning race situations to his advantage, even during overtakes. He suggested that other drivers, such as McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, could benefit from studying Verstappen’s methods.
Liuzzi specifically referenced the 2025 Brazilian Grand Prix incident involving Piastri. He indicated that a driver with Verstappen’s tactical awareness would have positioned themselves more effectively in the opening corner.
According to Liuzzi, Verstappen’s uncompromising approach extends to his general attitude. He stated that the Red Bull driver ‘doesn’t listen anyway’ and shows little concern for external opinions regarding his racing style.
Verstappen secured four consecutive world titles before narrowly missing a fifth in the 2025 season. McLaren claimed both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships in 2025, with Norris leading their campaign.
Liuzzi’s role as an FIA Driver Steward is part of a 2026 framework that grants increased influence to former drivers in incident assessment. This change aims to address past complaints about inconsistent stewarding decisions.
‘Max is a war machine in this. As a steward, I find it difficult with Max because when we have to manage an incident, he always manages to stay on the borderline of legality.’
The former F1 driver’s observations, made in January 2026, underscore the ongoing discussion surrounding Verstappen’s aggressive yet highly effective racecraft within the sport.
