Is Max Verstappen about to surprise the Formula 1 world by announcing his retirement, like Nico Rosberg did a few years ago?
Three-time reigning world champion Max Verstappen could be considering leaving Formula One earlier than expected, according to former driver Ralf Schumacher, who spoke of the Dutchman’s frustrations following his recent penalty at the Singapore Grand Prix.
Palpable anger after penalty
During the Singapore Grand Prix weekend, Verstappen expressed his anger after being penalised for swearing on the radio.
The decision was so frustrating that he almost refused to speak at press conferences, suggesting he might consider early retirement if the situation did not improve in motorsport’s premier class.
However, he received almost unanimous support from fellow drivers, team principals and fans, who believe the penalty was excessive.
Massive support from the F1 community
Ferrari boss Frédéric Vasseur said:
“Maybe we should focus on something other than a few words spoken in a split second.”
Similarly, former Mercedes F1 boss Norbert Haug expressed his astonishment at the importance given to this case, calling it “storm in a teacup”. He even suggested that a simple beep would have been enough to solve the problem.
Red Bull consultant Dr Helmut Marko also defended Verstappen, saying his behaviour after the penalty should be praised.
“Max remains true to his values and cannot ignore treatment that he considers unfair. This could be interpreted as a positive message for young people: ‘Always be true to your values’“ he said.
Ralf Schumacher on the threat of departure
Conversely, Ralf Schumacher stressed that Verstappen’s threat to leave F1 could be real, particularly because of his independent nature.
“I think he will stop if things get worse. Because he is simply independent. He has earned enough money and has always said he will not stay in F1 indefinitely. I do not rule it out.” he said.
Schumacher also noted that the “fuck” penalty is just one of many frustrations Verstappen has to deal with, including Adrian Newey’s departure and a car that isn’t responding the way he wants it to.
“Max has a lot on his plate right nowhe added.There’s the Christian Horner affair, Adrian Newey’s departure, the bouncing car and then the world championship slowly slipping away from him. Of course, people swear sometimes. A simple warning would have been enough.”
Lewis Hamilton gives advice to Verstappen
Lewis Hamilton, meanwhile, advised Verstappen to refuse to serve his community service penalty. Ralf Schumacher commented on the suggestion, noting that Verstappen’s technical issues should be his priority.
“If I were his advisor, I would tell him not to waste energy on this.he said. But he obviously feels unfairly treated and he is stubborn, and I don’t think Ben Sulayem (the president of the FIA, editor’s note) be smart enough to turn the tide. So I would make a virtue of necessity and take on an exciting project, maybe to help children or something else.”
He adds that Verstappen should instead focus on the car and on winning the world championship, while re-establishing a dialogue during press conferences.
“He needs to focus on the car and winning the world championship. And speaking at conferences again. A boycott like that would only distract him.” Schumacher concludes.
An uncertain future for Verstappen?
Max Verstappen’s current situation in the F1 paddock is a delicate one. Between his personal and professional frustrations, as well as the massive support he receives from his peers, the future of the Dutch champion could well depend on the future developments in the sport.
His determination to stay true to his values could influence not only his career, but also the image of Formula 1 as a whole.
