Verstappen: End of the streak? The F1 champion accepts not winning another title

Verstappen Reflects on His Future in Formula 1

Max Verstappen’s future in Formula 1 remains uncertain, although the world champion has accepted the possibility of not winning another championship if circumstances are not ideal. The current season marks the end of Verstappen’s reign, as Red Bull has failed to keep up with McLaren. Both Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris could snatch the title from him at the end of the season. Although he has a contract with Red Bull until 2028, Verstappen has expressed that he has no intention of competing in F1 for a long time, having achieved the world title he desired in 2021.

“I probably won’t continue until I’m 44,” Verstappen joked.

Max Verstappen

Verstappen considers the upcoming changes in F1 regulations, which promise to reconfigure the competitive order in 2026. “I think this has been more than I could have dreamed of. I am very happy and proud of what I have achieved so far, and you never know, maybe you won’t win another championship. That can happen, but it’s not something that worries me,” said the driver.

The question of how much longer Verstappen will race is persistent in Formula 1. He has not shown interest in breaking records and, after becoming a father, has highlighted how much he misses spending time with his family due to the 24-race F1 calendar.

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Reflecting on his future options, the four-time champion mentioned his interest in getting involved in racing from another perspective, such as on the pit wall.

“I have many plans and things related to racing, but that doesn’t necessarily require my 100% involvement, I think, in the future. I would like to drive a bit more [after F1], but I also don’t mind the more management side of things, you know, seeing other drivers compete in your car, your team. It’s not easy to fully answer that now. It also depends a bit on how fun everything is, you know, for me, how fast you are too because at some point you’ll get slower with age and then maybe it’s better to put the young ones… because you don’t want to look like an idiot either!”

Max Verstappen

Despite his contract with Red Bull, Verstappen was considered by Mercedes to join in 2026, something he has now ruled out.