Formula E CEO Jeff Dodds invites Max Verstappen to try the GEN4 car: “No cameras, no media, any racetrack he wants”

Formula E CEO Jeff Dodds has given Max Verstappen an open invitation to test the series’ GEN4 car, which is set to hit the track in 2027. Dodds said that if Verstappen is interested, he will arrange a private test at any track in the world of his choosing, with no media or cameras present. The offer comes days after the Red Bull star compared the new Formula One cars to Formula E, as F1 has also gone partially electric under its new rules and regulations.Max Verstappen tested the new F1 car last month in Barcelona and then again in Bahrain. He described it as “Formula E on steroids” after his experience, as new regulations have introduced major changes to F1 cars this year.Commenting on the remark on the sidelines of the Jeddah E-Prix, Formula E CEO Jeff Dodds said, “I think Max is effectively saying that he loves to go full send, full throttle, and the new F1 car obviously has a 50% electric powertrain and a 50% combustion engine, and it's not delivering a style of driving that he loves at the moment. We know what Max is like. He speaks his mind. He's an amazing character. He does feel that they've compromised F1 at the moment by trying to do the best of both worlds. Obviously, we're pure electric. F1 used to be pure combustion. I wasn't massively surprised to hear him say that.”Describing the much-anticipated GEN4 car, he added, “So, the GEN4 car is pure electric, with 70% more power. The car will comfortably go over 200 miles per hour in race conditions and still accelerate 30% faster than a Formula One car. So, we're on this trajectory of exploiting more power from this electric powertrain at a time when maybe F1 is beginning to question what its identity is.”When asked whether he would like to see Max Verstappen on the grid in the future or give him a taste of the GEN4 car, Jeff Dodds replied, “I sent him a slightly tongue-in-cheek message last night. I haven't checked, but I don't think he's replied. Look, if Max wants to come and test out the GEN4 car, I think he'd be really impressed by what's coming. Open invitation, no cameras, no media, any racetrack he wants in the world. We'll put a car on the show for him. Love it.”Dodds’ video interview was shared on Formula E’s official Instagram page. One fan commented, “Absolutely spot on about F1 not knowing its identity while Formula E knows exactly what it is and wants to be.” Taking a dig at the new F1 cars under the updated regulations, another fan wrote, “He's already testing FE cars in Bahrain.” A third added, “I’d love to see how that’d pan out, to be fair.”After the Jeddah doubleheader, Formula E will take a month-long break before returning for Round 6 in Madrid. It is a new venue on the Formula E calendar and is scheduled for March 21.Also read: Jeddah E-Prix 2026 Round 5: Antonio Felix da Costa triumphs in Jeddah, Sebastien Buemi and Oliver Rowland complete podium