At the 2026 Formula 1 Aramco Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen found himself in a position he hasn’t been accustomed to in his illustrious F1 career: 8th place.
His finish at Suzuka was the third installment in a troubling pattern so far in 2026, as Verstappen, 28, retired in sixth at the Qatar Airways Australian Grand Prix and finished 16th at the Heineken Chinese Grand Prix earlier this month (via ESPN).
Verstappen won four straight F1 Drivers’ World Championships between 2021 and 2024, but McLaren’s Lando Norris edged Verstappen by two points to become a World Champion for the first time last year.
F1 underwent significant regulations for the 2026 season, including a 50-50 power split, a new “Boost Button,” active aerodynamics, and lighter cars. After the Chinese Grand Prix, Verstappen called F1’s new formula “a joke.”
“It’s still terrible,” Verstappen said, per ESPN’s Laurence Edmondson. “I don’t know, if someone likes this, then you really don’t know what racing is about. It’s not fun at all. It’s playing Mario Kart. This is not racing.”
After the Japanese Grand Prix, Verstappen made an even stronger statement about his F1 future — or lack thereof.
BBC Sport asked Verstappen if he would retire from F1 at the end of this season, to which Verstappen replied, “That’s what I’m saying. 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 admitted, again, that he is “not enjoying the whole formula” under the new 2026 engine rules and asserted that his uncertainty about his F1 future is not tied to Red Bull’s middle-of-the-pack standing so far this season.
Verstappen also shared with BBC Sport’s Andrew Benson and Jennie Gow, among many other things, that he can “easily accept to be in P7 or P8 where I am” because the season is long, but he can’t accept losing his passion for competing.
“Of course, I do enjoy certain aspects. 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.”
He added, “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.”
As much as the 2026 regulations changed things in F1, Verstappen choosing to walk away would be a seismic shift for the sport. Verstappen has won 71 Grand Prix races and made 127 podiums
Verstappen has been under global scrutiny since debuting at 17 in 2015, but there will be an even closer eye on him moving forward.
F1 will next overtake Miami for the 2026 F1 Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix from May 1 to May 3. See the full F1 2026 calendar here.
