Max Verstappen says he is considering retiring from Formula 1 at the end of the 2026 season.
The four-time F1 world champion, who has a contract with Red Bull until 2028, has voiced his dissatisfaction with this year’s new generation of cars and has called for sweeping changes.
Red Bull are, also, a step behind leading teams such as Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren. Verstappen, who is seen as one of the sport’s modern greats, finished eighth in Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix and is ninth in the championship standings after three rounds, 60 points behind leader Kimi Antonelli.
Yet the 28-year-old is adamant Red Bull’s poor performance has nothing to do with his outlook. Asked by BBC Radio 5 Live after the race in Suzuka whether he would walk away from the sport at the end of the season, Verstappen replied: “That’s what I’m saying. I’m thinking about everything inside this paddock.
“Privately I’m very happy. You also wait for 24 races. 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. 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 any more because this has always been my passion.”
Verstappen is on a lucrative £50m-a-year contract at Red Bull, which he signed back in 2022. He missed out on winning five consecutive titles by just two points last year, losing out to Lando Norris, but looks way out of contention this season.
He has frequently criticised the new features on the 2026 cars, with a focus on energy deployment and, therefore, having to lift-and-coast on straights. He has also described the racing as “like Mario Kart.”
The Dutchman was also embroiled in a row with a British journalist on Thursday, after he threw Guardian reporter Giles Richards out of his pre-weekend media session.
“As a kid this is what I wanted to do and back then I had no idea what I was going to achieve and how much money you make,” Verstappen added. “You never think about that as a kid. And it’s also not about that.
“I want to be here to have fun and have a great time and enjoy myself. At the moment that’s not really the case.
“Of course I do enjoy certain aspects. I enjoy working with my team. It’s like a second family. But once I sit in the car it’s not the most enjoyable unfortunately.
“I’m trying. I keep telling myself every day to try and enjoy it. It’s just very hard.”
F1 now has a five-week break until round four in Miami on 3 May.
