SPIELBERG, Austria (AP) — Max Verstappen said he burst out laughing after realizing how next week's British Grand Prix will highlight the shortcomings of the new Formula 1 regulations.
Verstappen has been the F1 grid's most persistent critic of the 2026 cars and their reliance on electrical battery power, and the four-time champion has cited them in questioning his own future in F1.
Racing at Silverstone, one of the oldest tracks on the F1 schedule, will leave the cars starved for power, Verstappen predicted. The cars charge their batteries using energy from braking, but Silverstone doesn't have enough heavy braking to provide the energy needed for its long straights, he said.
“Silverstone, I love the track, but I did a few laps on the simulator, I just started laughing. It felt like a different track, to be honest. You barely have battery around the lap. It’s just constantly flat. So yes, it’s going to feel very different compared to what we are used to around Silverstone, because of the layout of the track,” Verstappen said after finishing second in Sunday's Austrian Grand Prix.
“Here (in Austria) you have long straights and big braking zones, so you can charge the battery. There you have long straights but in a fast corner, for example, so you can’t really charge the batteries, and then the next straight you don’t have a lot to spend. It’s going to be a tough one.”
Verstappen was speaking after his best result of the season in Red Bull's home race, with an upgraded car. He revealed he managed it despite discomfort in his knees after a heavy crash in qualifying.
“I knocked my knees. You hit the bones, it’s not very nice. But today was OK, so that was the most important,” he said.
With a grippier car capable of carrying more speed through the corner, Verstappen was still more upbeat than he's been almost all season.
“What was satisfying is that this was the first time I felt like actually I could fight for the win,” he said. “To be that close to a win, I think is great effort from the team. They have worked really hard to get these upgrades on the car here, and this is the first time, I think, in the race where I felt really competitive.”
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Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands steers his car during the Austrian F1 Grand Prix, in Spielberg, Austria, Sunday, June 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands prepares at pits during the third free practice ahead of the Austrian F1 Grand Prix, in Spielberg, Austria, Saturday, June 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)
NOTTINGHAM, England (AP) — England captain Ben Stokes made a stunning mid-match retirement announcement, took a wicket off his very next ball and was later dismissed for an explosive 20-ball 30 in his final test innings as New Zealand finished an extraordinary Day 4 of the deciding test on course for a series-clinching win.
On one of the most remarkable days in the history of English cricket, Stokes invariably took center stage – even though his actions might not have been in the best interests of the team he has led for the past four years.
New Zealand’s players left the Trent Bridge field on the cusp of delivering one of the country’s great test series victories, with England reaching stumps on 103-4 after 15 overs and still needing 270 runs in its seemingly forlorn chase of 373 to win on a deteriorating pitch.
This test, however, will likely be better remembered for a dramatic exit from international cricket by Stokes, who had only just been recalled to the team after missing the second test for disciplinary reasons.
About 15 minutes before tea and with New Zealand completely on top, an England statement was published saying Stokes would be retiring from national-team duty at the end of the match in Nottingham. He had informed his teammates of his decision at the start of the day's play, making an emotional speech in the dressing room.
With his first ball after the announcement filtered out, Stokes sent down a delivery that was edged by New Zealand batter Zak Foulkes to second slip where the catch was taken by Harry Brook, the man likely to take over as England test captain.
It was quite the symbolic moment.
Stokes led the team to the dressing room at the end of the session to a standing ovation from fans — and about an hour later, with New Zealand having declared on 288-9 and Daryl Mitchell unbeaten on a gutsy 100, the outgoing England captain was walking out with Ben Duckett after promoting himself to open the batting in the chase.
Determined to go out in a blaze of glory, Stokes slog-swept, scooped and smashed shots to the ropes in hitting two sixes and two fours in a 37-minute knock that was something of a blur.
The end came with England on 50-0, with Stokes flaying Foulkes to Mitchell at mid-on. Cue another standing ovation.
Four more batters were dismissed, including Brook, who hit a six and a four off his first two balls before departing for 21.
Not since 1999 has New Zealand won a series in England of three tests or more but it is a huge favorite now to clinch a 2-1 win.
Joe Root was unbeaten on 9 and Emilio Gay was 6 not out.
The English haven’t lost a home series of three tests or more since 2012. If they do, there would be more pressure on the team’s leadership after a humiliating 4-1 Ashes series defeat and subsequent concerns about its professionalism in the wake of the dropping of Stokes and Gus Atkinson for the second test for a disciplinary matter.
AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket
New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell, right, celebrates reaching a century on day four of the Third cricket Test between England and New Zealand in Nottingham, England, Sunday, June 28, 2026. (Joe Giddens/PA via AP)
England's Ben Stokes batting on day four of the Third cricket Test between England and New Zealand in Nottingham, England, Sunday, June 28, 2026. (Joe Giddens/PA via AP)
England's Ben Stokes walks off after being caught by New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell on day four of the Third cricket Test between England and New Zealand in Nottingham, England, Sunday, June 28, 2026. (Joe Giddens/PA via AP)
England's Ben Stokes, second left, celebrates with teammates the wicket of New Zealand's Mitchell Santner on day four of the Third Rothesay Test in Nottingham, England, Sunday, June 28, 2026. (Joe Giddens/PA via AP)
New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell, right, celebrates reaching a half century on day four of the Third Rothesay Test in Nottingham, England, Sunday, June 28, 2026. (Joe Giddens/PA via AP)
England's Jofra Archer celebrates the wicket of New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell before being overturned via a DRS review on day four of the Third Test cricket match between England and New Zealand, in Nottingham, England, Sunday June 28, 2026. (Joe Giddens/PA via AP)
England's Ben Stokes, left looks on with teammates on day four of the Third Test cricket match between England and New Zealand, in Nottingham, England, Sunday June 28, 2026. (Joe Giddens/PA via AP)
England's Jamie Smith, right, reacts as New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell is struck by the ball on day four of the Third Test cricket match between England and New Zealand, in Nottingham, England, Sunday June 28, 2026. (Joe Giddens/PA via AP)
England's Joe Root, right, speaks to Jamie Smith on day four of the Third Test cricket match between England and New Zealand, in Nottingham, England, Sunday June 28, 2026. (Joe Giddens/PA via AP)
New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell bats, on day four of the Third Test cricket match between England and New Zealand, in Nottingham, England, Sunday June 28, 2026. (Joe Giddens/PA via AP)
