Four-time Drivers’ Champion Max Verstappen is considering stepping away from Formula 1.
Verstappen’s frustrations stem from the new set of technical regulations implemented ahead of the 2026 F1 season, which emphasize battery power and energy harvesting. The new power units require a change in approach from the drivers, including harvesting energy in high-speed corners during qualifying sessions. Verstappen’s discontent with the regulations has popped up several times this season — including referring to the current state of racing to Mario Kart — and that frustration seemed near a breaking point following an eighth-place finish in Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix.
“That’s what I’m saying, I’m thinking about everything inside this paddock,” said Verstappen following the race to BBC Sport, when asked if he was considering leaving F1.
The driver stressed that it was not a matter of Red Bull’s poor start (which sees the team level on points with Alpine and in sixth place in the Constructors’ Championship) but rather the fact that he is not “enjoying” the current state of F1.
”Privately I’m very happy. You also wait for 24 races,” continued Verstappen. “This time it’s 22. But normally 24. And then you just think about is it worth it? Or do I enjoy being more at home with my family? Seeing my friends more when you’re not enjoying your sport?
“I can easily accept to be in P7 or P8 where I am,” he continued. “Because I also know that you can’t be dominating or be first or second or whatever, fighting for a podium every time. I’m very realistic in that and I’ve been there before. I’ve not only been winning in F1.
“But at the same time when you are in P7 or P8 and you are not enjoying the whole formula behind it, it doesn’t feel natural to a racing driver.
”Of course I try to adapt to it, but it’s not nice the way you have to race. It’s really anti-driving. Then at one point, yeah, it’s just not what I want to do.
“And of course you can look at it and make a lot of money. Great. But at the end of the day it’s not about money anymore because this has always been my passion.”
Verstappen has turned to racing elsewhere in recent years, including competing in a GT3 race at the historic Nürburgring circuit in Germany last weekend. Verstappen was part of a three-person team, along with Dani Juncadella and Jules Gounon, that secured what they thought was a win in the GT3 race. However, despite finishing first the Verstappen Racing team was disqualified for using an extra set of tires.
Still, the F1 champion is finding racing thrills elsewhere, which may not bode well for his F1 future given his current lack of enjoyment in the series.
”You hear it from a lot of sports people when you speak to them about how you are successful. It all starts with actually enjoying what you’re doing before you can actually commit to it 100 percent,” continued Verstappen on Sunday in Japan.
“Now I think I’m committing 100 per cent and I’m still trying, but the way that I am telling myself to give it 100 per cent I think is not very healthy at the moment because I am not enjoying what I’m doing,” added the Red Bull driver. “And now people can easily say, ‘Yeah, well, you’ve won so many championships and races and now just because the car is not good you are complaining.’ Maybe you can see it like that, but I see it different.”
Verstappen is not the only driver to express frustration with the current regulations. Rivals such as Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris have also found fault with the new rules. Others, including Verstappen’s 2021 championship rival Lewis Hamilton, have praised the regulations for providing the “best form of racing.”
But Verstappen’s continued frustration comes at a time when the four-time champion has already talked about stepping away from the sport. It is no secret that Verstappen does not want to race in F1 deep into his career, and his exploits in other racing series has led many to believe that it is inevitable that he walks away from F1 sooner than anticipated.
Now the grid will go silent for over a month, with the next stop on the schedule now slated for Miami at the start of May. According to Erik van Haren, a Dutch journalist and expert on all things Verstappen, this unexpected break is pivotal for his future. This break will give Red Bull an opportunity to improve the RB22, and the sport itself will be analyzing the regulations over the coming weeks as planned:
Then there are the upcoming Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities, or ADUO for short. This allows power unit manufacturers that are lagging behind the highest-performing power unit on the grid additional development opportunities this season and next.
So there will be opportunities to change the state of play in F1, perhaps more to Verstappen’s liking.
Whether that will be enough to keep him on the grid beyond 2026 remains to be seen.
