More than the possibility of winning his 4th F1 title this weekend in Las Vegas, the future of Max Verstappen was once again a major subject of the questions asked to the Red Bull driver today.
He has in fact hinted that he could retire from F1 when his current contract with Red Bull expires, or even before, with endurance races in mind.
So how does he decide when to say “stop” to F1? Verstappen reveals that he has a first idea: whether or not he will enjoy driving the 2026 F1 cars.
“At the moment I have a contract until 2028. I will be 31 at the end. Of course, that's still very young, but I started at 17. That's a long time in Formula 1.”
“For me it will depend on how the new cars will be in terms of driving from 2016. Are they pleasant to drive? If so, that can compensate for the number of races, the time spent away from home. It’s demanding.”
“It doesn't matter whether you have a lot of success or not. For me it doesn't matter. Of course we have already won a lot in Formula 1.”
“For me, it's not a question of having to stay and prove myself. I don't have this desire to win eight or nine titles to be the GOAT.”
“I'm very open-minded right now. I'm like, 'Let's see, let's wait until the real 2026 car is here, how it drives, and go from there.'
“It's not just about the driving experience, it's the whole thing, how it all comes together. I'm not really stressed about my future. I want to enjoy it and, of course , I want to do well. I want to win.
Verstappen insists he is “happy” of what he does in F1. But as a pure motorsport enthusiast, he also has a wandering eye and can see the appeal of racing in other series.
“I also want to do other things and at some point I also want to do fewer races. Naturally, when you do an endurance championship, it's a little less. The unique race that is Le Mans is more intense, it lasts 24 hours, but you have more free time, you can plan your schedule a little more.”
“For most of the year, every week, you know exactly what you're doing. Maybe it's a little more relaxed, and maybe you can enjoy life outside of racing a little more .”
