Max Verstappen and the Evolution of Formula 1’s Tactical Racing Era

Max Verstappen's Signature Move May Not Be Cool, But It Works

Max Verstappen, currently reigning as the king of Formula 1, has become synonymous with a highly effective and controversial racing tactic. Much like the iconic moves of NBA legends Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Steph Curry, Verstappen has developed a signature maneuver that has earned both admiration and criticism in the racing world. However, instead of a flashy overtaking move or a daring, high-speed pass, Verstappen’s signature move is centered around his knowledge of the Formula 1 rulebook — specifically how he can use the rules to his advantage to gain control of a corner.

This tactic, which often appears more like a chess move than a traditional pass, sees Verstappen entering corners with the intention of not making them in the traditional racing sense. Rather than executing a classic move where a driver dives ahead of a competitor by taking a faster line or braking later into a corner, Verstappen’s strategy is more about dominating the corner’s entry. He forces his rival off the track by claiming the inside line and using his position to push the competitor out, making it nearly impossible for them to stay alongside.

Max Verstappen's Signature Turn 1 Move May Not Be Cool, But It Works

In the 2024 and 2025 seasons, this move has evolved, with Verstappen’s mastery of the rules allowing him to assert control over corner exits in a way that leaves little room for competitors. The 2025 iteration of this tactic is, in fact, cleaner than last year’s version, thanks to a newly rewritten rule about driving standards. Despite the cleaner execution, however, it still lacks the true wheel-to-wheel racing that fans expect from Formula 1, leaving a question mark over the sport’s future if this continues.

Verstappen’s use of the rulebook extends beyond his own driving to influence the next generation of F1 talent. Drivers like Oscar Piastri have quickly adapted, mastering Verstappen’s strategy and putting it into practice during key moments in races such as the Miami and Jeddah Grand Prix. Piastri, for instance, was able to force his competitor off-track at Miami by cutting the corner exit short, demonstrating the adaptability of Verstappen’s move when executed correctly.

However, while this strategy may work to Verstappen’s advantage, it raises concerns within the motorsport community. The concept of forcing competitors off the track to gain an advantage is seen by some as a sign of the sport’s shifting focus away from competitive, clean racing. In its place, Formula 1 appears to be rewarding aggressive cornering that may not always be in the spirit of racing. But until the rulebook is modified to prevent such tactics, drivers will continue to exploit the loopholes to gain an upper hand.

The recent changeMax Verstappen's Signature Move May Not Be Cool, But It Workss to the racing regulations, particularly the rule updates aimed at preventing “diving” into corners, only shift the problem rather than solve it. The new rules still reward drivers for forcing rivals off the track with unnatural lines instead of encouraging cleaner, side-by-side racing. This creates a situation where, instead of refining the racing experience, the focus shifts more to how drivers can manipulate the rules to claim a corner with minimal resistance.

For fans of Formula 1, the current state of racing may not be ideal. While Verstappen’s dominance is unquestionable, the tactics he employs are far from the thrilling, fair competition that many hope to see. The sport now finds itself at a crossroads, as the tactical genius of Verstappen and others like him shows how the sport has evolved — or arguably, devolved — into a battle not just of speed, but of reading and exploiting the rulebook. Without further updates to the regulations, this trend will likely continue, leaving fans and drivers to wonder where the true art of racing has gone.

As the season progresses, and with the possibility of further regulatory changes, Formula 1 must confront the question: will racing return to its roots of thrilling wheel-to-wheel action, or will it continue down the path where strategy trumps spirit? Only time will tell if the legacy of Max Verstappen, shaped by his deep understanding of the rulebook, will be a lasting one for the sport.