Max Verstappen is going through a key moment in his career: The Dutch driver openly admits that he is seriously considering his continued participation in Formula 1It's not a question of titles or salary, but something deeper and, in his own words, simpler: he no longer feels the same enjoyment behind the wheel of the new generation of single-seaters.
At just 27 years old and in his prime as a sport, The four-time world champion is unsure whether it's worth continuing to be subjected to the 22-Grand Prix calendar. When the experience of driving no longer feels natural and fun, the idea of spending more time with family and friends, and exploring other motorsport disciplines that once again excite him, becomes increasingly important.
From absolute dominance to disenchantment with the new Formula 1
Over the last decade, Verstappen has established himself as the undisputed benchmark of the grillHe debuted at 17, strung together intense seasons, and ended up building his own era at Red Bull. Between 2021 and 2024, he won four world titles, adding 71 wins, 48 pole positions and 127 podium finishes, in addition to dozens of fast laps that placed him in the historical elite of the championship.
However, The Formula 1 he faces in 2026 bears little resemblance to the one that took him to the top.The regulatory changes, the extreme hybrid philosophy, and the obsession with energy management have completely changed the way cars are driven. Verstappen believes that too much time is now spent focusing on the batteries, regeneration, and electronics, and too little time pushing the limits like before.
He explained it himself in an interview with the BBC: He accepts finishing seventh or eighth if the car can't do any better.Because he knows you can't always win, but what frustrates him is that his own driving style no longer feels natural. When he feels he has to "force himself to drive in a way he doesn't like" and that the pure sensations behind the wheel have been lost, he begins to question the point of remaining on the grid.
A Red Bull in the midfield and a driver who wasn't having fun behind the wheel.
This discomfort is compounded by Red Bull's drop in performanceThe team has gone from clear dominance to a highly competitive midfield battle. They are currently far from the podium, and races like Suzuka clearly illustrate this: Verstappen could only manage eighth place, with no real opportunity to challenge rivals like the Mercedes-powered Alpine.
Nevertheless, The Dutchman insists that his disappointment is not solely due to the competitiveness of the car.He recalls having already experienced difficult periods without a winning car and that he didn't feel this kind of rejection then. Now, what bothers him is the lack of connection with the current concept of the car: he believes that "it's not beautiful to race like this" and even goes so far as to say that, at many times, what he's doing "is the opposite of driving."
Verstappen admits that there are still things that fulfill him: the relationship with his team, whom he defines as his second familyThe work in the garage, the racing atmosphere. But he points out that once he gets into the car, the fun fades. He says he tries to enjoy it, although it's becoming increasingly difficult to stay motivated when he feels that F1 no longer offers the kind of competition he's passionate about.
Contract until 2028, but with open exit options
The contractual context adds even more interest to this moment in his career. Verstappen signed with Red Bull until 2028A long-term commitment that, in theory, secured the future of both parties. However, in recent years several clauses have been made more flexible to allow for different scenarios beyond 2026.
According to the Dutch newspaper 'De Telegraaf', very close to the pilot's environment, That contract includes conditions that would allow him to change teams or even leave Formula 1 before 2028 if the project proved uncompetitive under the new regulations. This was designed with the possibility of Red Bull not adapting well to the rules in mind, but now it also opens the door to withdrawal if he decides to end his time in the championship.
Speculation has quickly begun in the European paddock: Mercedes has always been attentive to any movement Verstappen's contract is with Ferrari, which is one of the few teams capable of affording a salary exceeding €50 million per season. However, the driver himself suggests that, at present, the alternative is not so much changing teams as completely rethinking his relationship with F1.
A harsher character and a very different season
Those around him in the paddock indicate that Verstappen's version in 2026 is different from that of previous years.His public attitude has hardened, and some of his actions have drawn attention: during a recent Grand Prix weekend, he even expelled an English journalist from the hospitality from Red Bull, in response to a question that reporter had asked him in Abu Dhabi 2025.
On the track, the results have also suffered. At Suzuka, a circuit that has been a talisman for him, he could only finish eighth.Far from the victory he had achieved the previous season, starting from pole position and holding off two faster McLarens. Even more surprisingly, in qualifying he even managed to qualify behind his teammate within the Red Bull program, the young Hadjar, something unthinkable just a year ago.
The combination of these factors reinforces the perception that He is in one of the strangest phases of his careerHe came close to a fifth world title—losing it by just two points in the final race of the previous season—and yet he finds himself immersed in a project that no longer excites him in the same way. The contrast between what he has been and what he is now makes his potential retirement sound even more shocking.
An enormous track record for a driver who is already looking beyond the Grand Prix circuit.
At this point, the numbers speak for themselves: four world championships, 71 wins and 127 podium finishes These are figures that very few have been able to match. Verstappen is part of the select group of drivers who have defined an era and shaped the course of the championship, both on and off the track.
However, Achieving almost everything so quickly has had an unexpected effectThe Dutchman himself admits that his main life goal is no longer to accumulate records or break all the historical marks. Although he is still seen in Europe as being at his peak, he seems less obsessed with prolonging his dominance than with rediscovering the spark that led him to take risks since his debut in 2015.
Verstappen recalls that He hasn't always won in F1 And that, in other, more complicated phases, he continued to enjoy the simple act of competing. The difference now is that, even though he can still fight at the top, the current style of Formula 1 doesn't give him the same thrill. And that makes him consider completely rethinking his career, even if from the outside it seems premature.
Other projects: GT3, endurance racing and new goals in Europe
The Dutchman insists that, if he decides to stop, It will not be to turn away from motorsportIn fact, he has already been working on other projects that motivate him as much as, or even more than, F1, especially in the world of GT3 racing and endurance racing. One of his major short-term goals is to take on challenges such as... 24 Hours of Nürburgring, where he is scheduled to compete with a Mercedes team.
Furthermore, He makes no secret of his interest in legendary races like the 24 Hours of Le MansThe World Endurance Championship is a major event that many European drivers consider the perfect complement—or even the alternative—to Formula 1. For Verstappen, building his own team in these categories and developing a tailor-made project is particularly appealing.
It is emphasized in their environment that is already involved in the management and development of GT3 programsnot only as a driver, but also as a key member of the team structure. This role allows him to enjoy a different kind of responsibility and a more relaxed environment than Formula 1, with less media pressure and more room to experiment.
A champion who questions the direction of the regulations and the FIA
Beyond his individual case, Verstappen's discontent has a clearly political and sporting component. He believes that the current regulations are moving F1 away from the kind of spectacle it should offer.The priority given to energy management, the reliance on hybrid systems, and the need to drive with both battery and stopwatch in mind clash head-on with his idea of what a race should be.
His criticism has been especially evident on technical circuits like Suzuka, where Energy management and constant regeneration condition each lapThe Dutchman argues that this model reduces the driver's ability to make a difference and dilutes the instinctive component of driving at the limit, something he has always considered essential.
Given this climate of unrest, The FIA has already announced meetings with teams and manufacturers. to analyze possible adjustments to the regulations. The stated objective is twofold: to improve the spectacle for the fans and, at the same time, to restore a more satisfying experience for the drivers. In the European paddock, there is even talk of introducing partial changes before the end of the season, with races like Miami on the horizon, although everything will depend on technical consensus.
Media pressure, doubts about the future, and a market on edge
As the debate over the regulations intensifies, Verstappen's words have set off alarm bells in the transfer market.The mere possibility of his leaving F1 would force several teams to rethink their medium- and long-term projects. Teams like Mercedes and Ferrari, which have historically fought for the best talent, are closely watching every statement the Dutchman makes.
However, the pilot himself is trying to downplay the noise surrounding his immediate future. He insists that, for the moment, he is 100% committed to Red Bull And with his work weekend after weekend, although he acknowledges that "it's not healthy" to continue in a dynamic he no longer fully enjoys. At every Grand Prix, the question of whether or not he will remain on the grid is repeated, and he simply replies that he is "thinking about everything."
Among European fans, the idea that one of the great modern dominators could leave in his prime It's causing a real earthquake. Many are wondering if it's a profound reflection, a way to pressure for rule changes, or simply a warning that his life doesn't revolve solely around Formula 1. Whatever the case, the underlying message is clear: not even a champion accustomed to winning is willing to keep going at any cost.
In this scenario of doubt, rule changes and alternative projects in GT3 and endurance racing, Max Verstappen finds himself at an unusual crossroads for a driver of his caliberHaving won virtually everything and made his mark with Red Bull, the Dutchman is weighing up whether current Formula 1 is worth the personal sacrifice it entails or if the time has come to seek new motivations away from the paddock, even if that means putting an early end to one of the most impactful careers that modern motorsport has ever seen.