Four-time world champion Max Verstappen has said he is considering leaving the championship after the end of the current season. The Dutch driver is unhappy with the new powertrains and the overall direction of the series, he told the BBC.
From the start of the 2026 season, Formula 1 will be introducing new engine regulations that will significantly increase the proportion of electric power. The technical specifications of the new powertrains will require drivers to regularly switch to battery charging mode during laps. This will reduce the speed of the cars on straight sections of the track during energy recovery.
After finishing at Suzuka, Max Verstappen confirmed in a comment to the BBC that he is seriously considering ending his career. According to the driver, the determining factor for him is not the financial aspect or the lack of victories, but the loss of pleasure from the very process of driving a car.
Asked in an interview with BBC Sport whether this meant he was leaving the team at the end of the season, the Dutchman said: “That's exactly what I mean.”
“I think about everything that happens in this paddock? In my personal life I'm very happy. But you wait for 24 races and then you just think: is it worth it? Do I prefer to be at home with my family? In the end, it's not about the money anymore, because racing has always been my passion,” said Firstpapen.
The rider stressed that his disappointment was not related to Red Bull's current position in the middle of the peloton. He explained that the specifics of the competition under the new rules contradict his sporting principles.
“I can easily accept that I'm in seventh or eighth place now. I'm realistic about it. But when you don't enjoy the whole formula behind it, it doesn't feel natural. It's really anti-driving. At the moment I'm trying to enjoy it every day, but it's just really hard,” the rider added.
This season, Max Verstappen finished sixth at the Australian Grand Prix, retired in China and finished eighth at the final round in Japan. Verstappen's main complaint about the 2026 regulations is the battery energy management system.
“You can overtake here, but then you won't have the battery for the next straight. You can overtake, but then you get overtaken again. That was basically the whole story of today,” he commented on his struggle at the Japanese Grand Prix.
In addition to the sporting component, the pilot emphasized the danger of a large difference in speed. This was confirmed by the accident of Oliver Berman, who crashed into the barrier due to the sudden deceleration of Franco Colapinto's car in front of him. Verstappen called on the series management to take immediate action.
“The difference in speed can reach 50–60 km/h, and this is a very serious difference. Similar situations occur when one of the racers is without power, and the other has overtaking mode turned on. This needs to be adjusted for safety reasons,” Max emphasized.
The FIA has already responded to the criticism and incidents by announcing a series of meetings during the four-week break before the Miami Grand Prix, where the parties are expected to discuss optimizing energy consumption to allow drivers to “give their all”.
Verstappen is a four-time world champion. After winning the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, he became the first Dutch driver to win the Formula One World Championship and the 34th world champion in the series' history. He also won the title four times in a row in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024.