Verstappen: Goodbye to the championship? Reflections of the F1 champion

Verstappen Reflects on the Future in Formula 1

Max Verstappen, the current Formula 1 champion, has expressed uncertainty about when he will end his career in motorsport. Despite his success, the driver has accepted the possibility of not winning a championship again, depending on the circumstances. Verstappen’s streak as champion could come to an end this year, given Red Bull’s performance compared to McLaren, which has shown a great level. Both Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris could snatch Verstappen’s title, ending his streak of four consecutive championships at the end of the season. Although he has a contract with Red Bull until 2028, Verstappen has hinted that he doesn’t plan to compete in F1 for much longer, having already achieved the title he was looking for in 2021. In statements, Verstappen commented that he is still unsure how much longer he will be on the tracks.

I probably won’t continue until I’m 44.

Max Verstappen

Verstappen, 27 years old, made a joke about it, referring to Fernando Alonso, who hasn’t won a race since 2013, despite being considered one of the greats of the modern era. The driver is also aware of the upcoming regulatory changes in F1 for 2026, which could reshape the competition.

I think this has been more than I could have ever dreamed of.

Max Verstappen

Verstappen was happy and proud of his achievements, acknowledging that he might not win another championship, but that it’s not something he’s worried about at the moment.

The duration of Verstappen’s career remains a topic of interest in Formula 1. He has never shown interest in breaking records and, after becoming a father, has emphasized how much he misses spending time with his family due to the 24-race F1 calendar around the world. While reflecting on his future, the four-time champion has expressed his interest in getting involved in motorsport from another perspective, such as on the pit wall. Verstappen has several race-related plans, but they wouldn’t necessarily involve his 100% participation in the future. Although he considers the initial stage crucial to establish everything correctly, these plans are projected for the long term. He would like to continue driving a bit more after F1, but he is also attracted to the idea of managing teams and seeing other drivers compete in his cars. However, he admits that it is difficult to give a definitive answer at this time, as it will depend on how much he enjoys it and his performance, as age could affect his speed and performance. Despite his contract with Red Bull, Verstappen was considered by Mercedes for a possible move in 2026, something he has now ruled out.