Verstappen considering retirement at end of the season after disastrous start to 2026

The four-time world champion Max Verstappen is reportedly considering retirement at the end of the season.

Credit: Formula One

Max Verstappen has been the driver most openly critical about the new Formula One regulations brought in for 2026. One of the more significant changes made has been drivers needing to manage their energy. Over the course of several laps, the car needs to recharge before the battery is deployed during the straights. This means during the corners, the cars run out of battery, slowing them down. 

While it has been entertaining from a fan perspective with the beginning of each race creating more wheel-to-wheel action and driver swaps throughout the field, the majority of drivers, including Verstappen and Lando Norris, criticised its ‘artificial’ style and how ‘terrible’ it is to drive. 

Verstappen considers his future in the sport

Following another disappointing race, Dutch newspaper and reliable source De Telegraaf reported that the Dutchman is "seriously considering" retiring, and a "crucial period" awaits during the five-week break ahead.

After two disappointing outings in 2026 so far, the Dutchman has only been able to grab two points in the season opener in Australia after a DNF in China. Verstappen hoped for redemption in Japan, a track on which he has taken four consecutive pole positions. 

However, he struggled during Saturday’s qualifying, stating the car was ‘undrivable’ after being knocked out by rookie Arvid Lindblad. Verstappen started 11th and was only able to recover to eighth, marking the race the first time in nine years in which he has finished outside of the top-five three times in a row. 

Max Verstappen and Pierre Gasly pictured battling it out at Suzuka | Credit: Formula One

In the post-race interviews, Verstappen spoke to the BBC, where he was asked if he was going to retire at the end of the season:

 “That's what I'm saying," he said. "I'm thinking about everything inside this paddock.

"Privately I'm very happy. You also wait 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 stated it isn’t Red Bull’s lack of competitiveness that is making him have such a distaste towards racing, it’s the regulations making the experience so unenjoyable:

"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, yeah, it's just not what I want to do.

"And of course you can look at it and make a lot of money. Great. But at the end of the day it's not about money any more because this has always been my passion.”

“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,” he added. 

“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.”

Looking ahead to other prospects

Recently, the Dutchman competed in NLS, where he dominated in the race and took victory before being disqualified for using an extra set of tyres than is allowed. Verstappen has been very vocal about his appreciation for GT3 racing and his aspirations to compete in the Le Mans 24 in the future. 

"I have a lot of other projects anyway that I have a lot of passion about. The GT3 racing,” he added.  

“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 [Formula One] 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,” he concluded. 

Formula One now enters a five-week break after it was announced that Saudi Arabia and Bahrain would not be taking place. The sport will return in May where the paddock heads to Miami for the fourth round of the season.