Joel Embiid shared a blunt take on the start of the new Formula One season, suggesting Max Verstappen might already be frustrated.
The NBA star reacted after watching the opening race of the year and quickly offered his thoughts on how the competitive balance looked.
Embiid’s comment hinted that Red Bull’s dominance from previous seasons may not continue this time around.
Joel Embiid claims Max Verstappen isn’t enjoying the new F1 season
Joel Embiid on X gave his reaction after seeing how the competitive order looked early in the championship.
“Mercedes is a rocketship (illegal)… Ferrari still employs the same strategists… Max isn’t having fun… it’s gonna be a long year!!! There’s at least some sort of racing,” Embiid wrote.
The Philadelphia 76ers star appeared to suggest the balance of power may have shifted away from Red Bull.
With Mercedes showing strong pace and Ferrari still battling strategic criticism, Embiid’s comment captured the early-season debate among fans.
His biggest takeaway was simple: Verstappen may finally have a tougher championship fight on his hands.
How the first Formula One race of the season unfolded
The 2026 Formula One season opened at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne under a new set of technical regulations.
The redesigned cars and updated engine rules immediately changed how the racing looked, with drivers managing energy systems more carefully and braking earlier at the end of straights.
Mercedes emerged as the early benchmark team during the race weekend.
George Russell eventually secured victory while teammate Kimi Antonelli finished second, giving Mercedes a dominant one-two result.
Ferrari briefly looked competitive when Charles Leclerc challenged for the lead early on, but strategy decisions later dropped the team out of the fight.
Max Verstappen recovered to finish sixth after starting further down the order, suggesting Red Bull may have more work to do as teams adapt to the new regulations.
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