Could Formula 1 lose its biggest star earlier than expected?
Max Verstappen, the Four time World Champion (2021, '22, '23 and '24), and driver at Oracle Red Bull Racing since 2014 is considered to be one of the best drivers in Formula 1 history, often compared to Lewis Hamilton, Michael Schumacher, Ayrton Senna and many more legendary drivers. Since his debut in Formula 1, he has gained many fans and followers who have supported and been with him every step of the way. He's the only dutch driver to ever race in Formula 1 with a total of 71 race wins with 2023 being his biggest season where he won 19 races consecutively which is a record for most races won in a season. His stats put him up the table along with Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher's records.
2026 New Rules and Regulations Criticism by Verstappen
As we are 3 races into the 2026 season with the new regulations and rule changes, it's very easy to compare which team is adapting and which isn't. As of the Red Bull driver, Max Verstappen, he's not been enjoying the regulation changes and has been criticizing it since day 1. During the opening tests and shakedowns of the season, Max Verstappen referred to these new generation, hybrid cars as, "Formula E on steroids" clearly because of the increase in electric power in the engine and other aspects.
Red Bull ditched the continuation of Honda engines in 2026 and moved on to build their own engines in partnership with Ford. As we know, Red Bull won 2 constructors championships (2022 & 2023) in the Honda era, giving us the conclusion that Honda produced the most dominant engine in those years and in the new ground effect regulations. So, the question comes, what changed in 2026? Well, with Red Bull developing their own engine with the new regulations, it's clear that they are struggling to build a reliable engine and hence, not getting good results during weekends.
In the first race of the season, the Australian Grand Prix, Max Verstappen had a tough qualifying where he qualified P20, but he did give a strong performance in the race and gained 14 positions, from P20 to P6 and secured 8 points for the team. In the Chinese Grand Prix, Max Verstappen got a DNF, and in the Japanese Grand Prix, he managed to bag 4 points but he seemed to be super unhappy with the new regs. Max Verstappen's contract with Red Bull racing ends in 2028 but he might be eyeing for an exit from Formula 1.
"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.
Ofcourse 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."
-Max Verstappen
As we can clearly see, the new regulations have made it tough for the four time world champion to enjoy the sport and support his passion for it.
Where can Max Verstappen race, if not F1?
Max Verstappen is currently racing alongside F1 in 24 hours of Nürburgring in a Mercedes AMG GT-3 car and he seems to be enjoying it. Although he's always been very clear that he wants to race in Endurance, rallying and Le Mans in the future along with continuing his sim racing programs. So, if someday he leave F1, there's no doubt that fans might see him in other racing leagues.
Conclusion
Max Verstappen has been criticizing the 2026 regulation and rule changes since the start of the season and has been hinting his exit from Formula 1 before the end of his contract. Although, if Verstappen decides to retire from F1 anytime soon, it won't be that we won't see him race, he has always been open about his plans to race in other leagues and might join them eventually if he decides to exit F1.