Max Verstappen has reiterated that he is not rushing any decision about his future in Formula 1, even as speculation swirls that the Dutch driver might walk away from the sport. The Red Bull star first hinted at a possible exit after the Japanese Grand Prix in late March, expressing disappointment with the new technical regulations that have left his team lagging at the start of the 2026 campaign. Since then, he has been unusually quiet, citing a busy schedule that includes a test run on Germany’s legendary Nordschleife circuit in preparation for a 24‑hour endurance event later in May. Ahead of the Miami Grand Prix, Verstappen told reporters, “I still have time and I’m taking my time.” When Sky Italy asked whether an improvement in Red Bull’s performance would influence his thinking, he answered that the team is currently a little further behind than they were last year, but added that his own feelings remain unchanged from what he said in Japan.
"I just want to be here," he said, emphasizing that the team is working hard on car upgrades and that the outcome of those developments will be a key factor in his next move. At present, Verstappen sits ninth in the Drivers’ Championship and has failed to finish in the top five in any of the first three races. He has made it clear that his frustration stems more from the regulatory environment than from any shortfall in Red Bull’s performance.
The FIA has introduced a series of tweaks to the power‑unit rules for the remainder of the season, aiming to promote more “flat‑out” driving. These adjustments include tighter limits on energy harvesting and deployment, a reduction in the need for super‑clipping (the practice of slowing on a straight to recharge the battery), and changes to boost modes that were prompted by Oliver Bearman’s dramatic crash in Japan. Verstappen, however, dismissed the changes as a mere “tickle” and said they are insufficient to restore the pure, high‑speed racing fans love.
He hopes that next year will bring "really big changes" and noted that recent meetings between Formula 1, the FIA, and the drivers have been constructive. "Even if I’m not around in a few years, I hope future drivers will have a stronger voice with the organisers," he said, adding that drivers possess a keen sense of what makes the sport entertaining and commercially viable.
The conversation also turned to his long‑time race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, who surprised the paddock by announcing his move to McLaren for the 2028 season. Lambiase has been Verstappen’s sole permanent engineer since they first teamed up in 2016, and the driver once warned that he would consider retirement if he lost that partnership. Verstappen stressed that Lambiase’s departure is unrelated to his own future, describing their relationship as “very honest and open.” He wished his engineer well and acknowledged that finding a new engineer with the same chemistry will be challenging. He joked that trying to keep Lambiase would be “idiotic” given the lucrative offer from McLaren, and admitted that rebuilding that driver‑engineer rapport will take time.
"The chemistry we have is rare in racing. It’s something I’ll have to look for again, and it’s not easy," he said.
Beyond the driver‑engineer saga, the weekend schedule in Miami is packed. On Friday, May 1, fans can catch F2 practice at 2:35 p.m., followed by Miami GP practice at 4:30 p.m., F2 qualifying at 7:25 p.m., the Team Bosses’ press conference at 8:10 p.m., and the sprint qualifying session at 8:40 p.m.
Saturday’s agenda includes the F2 sprint at 2:55 p.m., the build‑up to the Miami sprint race at 4 p.m., the sprint itself at 5 p.m., and a series of analysis shows in the evening. Sunday, May 3, features the F2 feature race at 5:25 p.m., the Grand Prix build‑up at 7 p.m., the main race at 9 p.m., and post‑race reaction shows throughout the night. All events will be broadcast on Sky Sports Main Event and streamed via NOW. In summary, Verstappen’s message is clear: he is not in a hurry to decide his fate, and he will let the upcoming car developments and broader regulatory reforms guide his next steps.
While the Dutchman remains competitive, the early‑season results and the FIA’s modest rule tweaks have left him yearning for a more substantial overhaul of the sport’s technical framework. Whether those changes arrive in time to keep him engaged, or whether he eventually follows the path of other champions who retired on their own terms, remains to be seen.
For now, he is focused on the Miami race weekend, the work of his engineering team, and the hope that the sport will evolve into a more thrilling, driver‑centric spectacle.