Formula 1 Rumor: Verstappen will quite Formula 1 after 2026

Disgusted with the current Formula 1 engine formula and the way the 2026 regulations have shifted the emphasis away from raw driver talent toward energy management and software trickery, Max Verstappen has given his clearest indication yet that he is seriously considering walking away from the sport at the end of 2026.

–Mark Cipolloni–

In a candid media session following his shock P11 qualifying result at Suzuka – his worst grid position in more than two years – the four-time world champion did not hold back when asked about his long-term future in F1.

THERE’S A LOT OF STUFF FOR ME PERSONALLY TO FIGURE OUT. LIFE HERE [IN F1 DO I STAY OR LEAVE]. IT DEPENDS ON WHAT THEY DECIDE FOR NEXT YEAR [WITH REGARD TO THE ENGINE RULES].

Max Verstappen on his future in F1

The quote, delivered with the familiar Verstappen mix of blunt honesty and frustration, marks the first time he has explicitly linked his continued presence in Formula 1 to potential further changes in the power-unit regulations beyond the already controversial 2026 package.

A Season of Growing Frustration

Verstappen’s comments come on the back of a deeply disappointing Japanese Grand Prix qualifying where the Red Bull RB22 simply lacked the balance and grip needed through Suzuka’s high-speed sections. While Mercedes dominated with a front-row lockout and McLaren-Ferrari filled the rest of the top six, the reigning champion was left visibly angry on team radio and in the garage.

This isn’t a one-off. Since the new 2026 cars hit the track earlier this year, Verstappen has repeatedly criticised the regulations for turning races into “power-management exercises” rather than pure driving battles. He has called the heavy reliance on battery deployment and energy-harvest strategies “anti-racing,” “not very Formula 1-like,” and even compared parts of it to “Formula E on steroids.”

For a driver who has built his reputation on instinctive, flat-out speed through corners like 130R and the Esses, the new rules feel like a betrayal of what drew him to the sport in the first place.

Where Talent Still Counts

Insiders close to Verstappen say he is increasingly drawn to series where the driver, not the software or battery strategy, remains the decisive factor. Speculation has long swirled around potential moves to:

– IndyCar (where overtaking and raw wheel-to-wheel racing are king)
– World Endurance Championship (Le Mans with a top manufacturer)
– Even a surprise return to his roots in single-seater or GT racing

One source told AutoRacing1.com: “Max has always said he’ll only stay in F1 as long as he’s enjoying it and feels the rules still reward the best driver. Right now, he doesn’t feel that’s the case. If the FIA and FOM don’t make meaningful changes for 2027, 2026 could very well be his last season.”

Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies was quick to downplay immediate exit talk after qualifying, insisting Verstappen remains fully committed “for now” under his contract that runs until the end of 2028. However, the team is understood to have quietly begun contingency planning should the Dutchman decide to pull the plug early.

The Bigger Picture for F1

Verstappen’s comments land at a critical moment for the sport. The 2026 regulations were sold as a bold reset to make F1 more sustainable and closer-fought, but early signs suggest they have instead created a car that many drivers – not just Verstappen – find tricky and less rewarding to drive at the limit.

With the Japanese Grand Prix race tomorrow (lights out 14:00 local), all eyes will be on whether Verstappen can fight back from 11th and whether his frustrations boil over publicly again.

For the millions of fans who have watched him dominate for the best part of a decade, the question is now unavoidable: is this the beginning of the end of the Max Verstappen era in Formula 1?