Max Verstappen Admits: "I Seriously Considered Quitting Formula 1"

Pulse Sports Team 09:02 - 20 September 2026

Four-time world champion Max Verstappen has revealed he seriously considered retiring from Formula 1 at the end of the 2026 season, despite signing a new contract with Red Bull last month that ties him to the team until at least the end of 2030.

The Dutchman's future was cast into doubt earlier this year when he voiced significant concerns about the new regulations introduced this season. These car changes also drew complaints from several other drivers on the grid.

Furthermore, Red Bull has seen a dip in its competitiveness, with the Milton Keynes-based squad being the only team in the top four of the standings yet to win a race this campaign. Before signing his contract extension with Red Bull in August, Verstappen had been non-committal about his future.

"Well, you either leave or you don't – so it's a 50/50 decision," Verstappen responded in an interview with BILD when asked how close he was to quitting the world championship. "I seriously considered stepping away. But ultimately, I love racing. I have nothing more to prove. I'm a four-time world champion and achieved everything I ever wanted after my first title. I don't race for the history books, but for myself, for the team, and for our fans. That's why, in the end, it was an easy decision," the Dutchman added.

Red Bull is enduring a challenging season, and Verstappen is currently on his longest winless streak since 2017. Despite this, he insists he still enjoys the sport, despite his concerns about the current regulations and the team's position.

"Yes. Obviously, it would be even more fun if I won every weekend, but right now the car simply isn't capable of that. That's normal because we're on the right track and we're a good team," he said.

In recent years, the team has also been affected by the departure of several key management figures, but Verstappen downplayed the impact of these changes.

"Many people have come and gone in recent months and years, so some things had to be readjusted, but now we've gelled as a team. Everyone believes we'll get back to the top. We're all giving our best to achieve that goal – and it's a lot of fun," the driver concluded.