Max Verstappen doesn’t really like front-wheel drive cars, and that’s okay

When you’re considered one of the fastest drivers of your generation and you’re the reigning four-time World Driver’s Champion of one of the most prestigious racing series, it’s easy to say that you are one of the best drivers on the planet, and Max Verstappen perfectly fits that bill.

And whatever he says related to driving does hold a lot of weight, so with Max slamming front-wheel drive cars comes as both a surprise and not one at the same time.

For context, during a video by Ford Performance where he and veteran journalist Chris Harris go for a bit of a Q&A session behind the wheel of a Ford RS200, Harris asks Verstappen if “he likes front-wheel drive,” and he outright says, “No, I think it’s really boring. When you drive it in a car, for me, it’s just like anti-driving, you know?”

He then says that he has driven some of them on the simulator, and that you have to be more “V-style” or aggressive when you take corners.

Of course, his opinion does have some merit. Coming from the perspective of a race car driver, Max’s driving style makes him prefer a car with a “pointy front end”, or a setup where the car’s front end is very responsive, allowing for faster corner entry and exit at the cost of an unstable car.

To further explain, front wheel drive cars have the front wheels both handle the power and turning, meaning the car will tend to understeer or not turn in as easily as a rear-wheel drive car, where the rear tires deliver the power while the front is mainly for turning, allowing for a “looser” rear end when you turn in, or the potential to oversteer.

Now, before you criticize Max Verstappen for saying that after endorsing the Civic Type R (both FK8 and FL5), which, ironically, is considered to be one of the best-handling front-wheel drive cars on the market today, you have to remember that Red Bull Racing used to be partnered with Honda for its powertrains (before shifting to Ford Performance for 2026 onwards), meaning these were simply part of RBR’s deal for marketing.

Of course, front-wheel drive cars have their benefits. Simpler packaging allows for more space in the cabin, is more economical due to having less drivetrain power loss, and is easier to repair. Rear-wheel driven cars are more “pure” and fun to drive, but are simply less practical for day-to-day use, which is why front-wheel drive cars have become the norm.

So what does that mean for you, as an enthusiast or consumer? Nothing, really. It’s an interesting factoid that lines up with the driver’s preference, and you shouldn’t take his opinion as gospel, whether you are in either camp.

^{Photos from Honda, Ford Performance, Sam Surla, and Shutterstock}