Verstappen contemplating F1 exit at end of the season

Max Verstappen has confirmed he is weighing up whether to continue racing in Formula 1 beyond the end of the 2026 season, such is his lack of enjoyment with the latest cars.

The four-time world champion has been a vocal critic of the new regulations, that have drivers dealing with energy management and generally unable to push flat out during a qualifying lap. Having suggested he was considering his future in the sport on Saturday at the Japanese Grand Prix, saying he had to figure out “life, here”, he then told the BBC his departure at the end of 2026 is a real possibility.

“That's what I'm saying, I'm thinking about everything inside this paddock,” Verstappen told BBC 5 Live. “The rest, privately I'm very happy. You’re also away 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?”

Verstappen says part of the consideration relates to how committed he believes he needs to be in order to be successful in F1, and that enjoyment is a significant part of allowing that to happen.

“I see it like this: You hear it from a lot of sports people when you speak to them about how are you successful,” he said. “It all starts with actually enjoying what you're doing before you can actually commit to it 100%.

“Now, I think I'm committing 100% and I'm still trying, but the way that I am telling myself to give it 100% is not very healthy at the moment because I am not enjoying what I'm doing. 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.

“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, it's just not what I want to do.

“Of course you can look at it... yeah I 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 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. You never think about that as a kid.

“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.”

Verstappen added that his involvement in a GT team and ability to race other cars means he doesn’t fear life outside F1 should he decide to walk away from the sport.

“I have a lot of other projects that I have a lot of passion about,” he said. “The GT3 racing. Not only racing it myself, but also the team. It's really nice and fun to build that. And I really want to build that out further in the coming years.

"It's not like if I would stop here that I'm not going to do anything. I'm always going to have fun. And also, I will have fun in a lot of other things in my life. But it's a bit sad, to be honest, that we're even talking about this. It is what it is. You don't need to feel sorry for me. I'll be fine.”