Max Verstappen already considering retiring as hated Formula 1 rules exposed

Four-time world champion Max Verstappen, who had declared himself “beyond frustrated” after qualifying for the Japanese Grand Prix, said he was considering his future in Formula 1 after finishing eighth in Suzuka.

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, the Red Bull driver said his lack of enjoyment at driving the new generation of cars was making him question whether racing in the sport was still worth it.

“I’m thinking about everything inside this paddock,” he said in the interview.

“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 has been an outspoken critic of F1’s new regulations and engine era, even concluding the BBC interview with the warning that the sport’s bosses “know what to do” to fix it — that is, dropping the formula entirely.

He has repeatedly said his dissatisfaction doesn’t stem from Red Bull’s poor form but due to the new rules placing more of an emphasis on energy management than flat-out racing.

“I can easily accept to be in P7 or P8 where I am,” he said.

“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.

“As a kid this is what I wanted to do and back then I had no idea what I was going to achieve and how much money you make. You never think about that as a kid. And it’s also not about that.

“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.”

Verstappen, who is contracted to Red Bull until the end of 2028, said he had plenty of pursuits beyond Formula One to keep him engaged.

The Dutchman recently competed in a sports car race at German track Nuerburgring’s fearsome Nordschleife layout in preparation for the 24 Hours of Nurburgring race in May.

He also drove a Japanese GT car at Japan’s Fuji racetrack ahead of the weekend in Suzuka.

“I see it like this: you hear it from a lot of sports people when you speak to them about how are you successful,” Verstappen said.

“It all starts with actually enjoying what you’re doing before you can actually commit to it 100 per cent.

“Now I think I’m committing 100 per cent and I’m still trying, but the way that I am telling myself to give it 100 per cent I think is not very healthy at the moment because I am not enjoying what I’m doing.

“I have a lot of other projects anyway that I have a lot of passion about. The GT3 racing. 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 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. You don’t need to feel sorry for me. I’ll be fine.”