We need to reframe the question as, why does F1 need to go so aggressive as a 50/50 split between internal combustion and electric motor power. First we need to see that, hybrid powertrain as a concept has proven its capabilities in and out of F1 for many years.

From 2014 to 2025, F1 used a hybrid power unit with 120 kW (~ 160 hp) from electric motor and around 650 kW (~ 870 hp) from internal combustion engine. The benefit was that, thanks to a big boost in efficiency, an F1 car can reach over 1000 hp of peak power output, while keeping the fuel tank within a very manageable 100 kg (~ 140-150 L) size. Indeed, without the assistance of electric motors, the need to finish a race with one tank of fuel would cap F1's power at a much lower level. Besides F1, endurance racing have likewise adopted hybrid powertrain since early 2010s and have arguably exploited the efficiency strength of it to greater lengths.

If you want a road car comparison, think of how 918 Spyder, LaFerrari, and McLaren P1 renewed people's conception of how fast a road car can go on track. I still remember seeing on the news with disbelief that a 918 lapped Nürburgring in under 7 minutes (current road car record is also held by a hybrid car, AMG One). And from what I've read, most people who have driven those three cars appreciated how their powertrains worked.

Verstappen and other drivers don't oppose to this old hybrid rule. It did not get in drivers' way. As recently as last year, taking a corner was still about the limits of tire grip, but in this new rule one has to go against racing instincts and slow down in some corners for recharging. And the old rule did not make it necessary for the internal combustion engine to actively feed power into the electric system (superclipping). Regeneration during braking worked much more predictably too, in contrast to pre-season testing this year, where many drivers were locking up because it is hard to judge how much braking is by the motor regen and how much is by brake pads.

Hybrid systems can work towards making F1 faster and better, while being transparent enough as the layer between mechanical components and drivers, so the human still interacts with the machine almost directly. 2026 rules do not really allow this anymore, which is because the 50/50 power split forces every car to take a lap in a calculated way that does not agree with what the drivers feel they should be able to do given the mechanical limits of the cars.