Max Verstappen skipped Thursday’s track session at Formula 1’s Bahrain pre-season test but dominated headlines with fiery remarks about the sport’s new regulations. The Red Bull driver called the 2024 rule changes “Formula E on steroids” and “anti-racing,” suggesting they prioritize spectacle over competition. Verstappen’s absence from the track drew attention to his media dominance, as he used the platform to critique F1’s direction. Mercedes faces scrutiny amid ongoing engine-row tensions, with Verstappen implying the team may be holding back performance—a claim he says he understands from past experiences in Melbourne.