Max Verstappen has made it clear that he is not in a hurry to decide whether to stay in Formula 1. The Dutch champion, who hinted at the possibility of leaving the sport after the Japanese Grand Prix in March, says he is taking a measured approach and will let the upcoming developments guide his choice. In the aftermath of the race in Japan, Verstappen voiced frustration with the new technical regulations that have hampered Red Bull’s start to the 2026 campaign. He suggested that the rule tweaks were a factor in his contemplation of retirement, but he added that there is "nothing new" to comment on at the moment because his attention is occupied by other commitments.
One of those commitments is a test session at the legendary Nürburgring Nordschleife, where he is preparing for a 24‑hour endurance event scheduled for May. "I still have time and I'm taking my time," he told reporters ahead of the Miami Grand Prix weekend.
When Sky Italy asked whether a sudden improvement in Red Bull’s performance would sway his decision, Verstappen replied, "We are a little bit further behind at the moment than what we had last year. The rest, I mean, also for myself, I don't know at the moment.
What I said in Japan is still the same, but I also still have a lot of time." He stressed that his primary focus is on the team’s work on the car. "I just want to be here.
The team has worked really hard to bring updates to the car, so we first have to wait and see what they will do, because I have no idea, of course, what other teams came with as well," he said. Verstappen hopes that the upcoming updates will allow Red Bull to climb out of the midfield battle that has characterised the opening three rounds, where he currently sits ninth in the Drivers’ Championship and has not finished inside the top five.
The driver identified the regulation changes themselves as his biggest source of irritation, rather than Red Bull’s on‑track performance. The FIA has altered the power‑unit rules for the remainder of the season in an attempt to encourage "flat‑out" driving.
Adjustments include tighter limits on energy harvesting and deployment, which should reduce the amount of "super‑clipping"—the practice of slowing down on a straight to recharge the battery—and curb lifting and coasting. These changes were also prompted by Oliver Bearman’s dramatic crash in Japan, which highlighted the need for stricter boost‑mode controls.
Despite these tweaks, Verstappen believes the measures are merely a "tickle" and fall short of what is needed to restore the pure, high‑speed character of Formula 1. "I just hope for next year we can make really big changes," he added. He noted that recent meetings with the sport’s governing bodies have been constructive and could serve as a foundation for future improvements.
Looking further ahead, Verstappen expressed a desire for drivers to have a stronger voice in shaping the sport. "Even in a few years' time, when maybe I'm not here anymore, I really hope that for the future drivers as well, there's more input to come from the drivers to the organisers in general because I do think that most of the drivers here, we have a good understanding and a good feel of what is needed to make Formula 1 a good product, a fun product," he said. He acknowledged that Formula 1 is a complex and political arena, but praised the recent steps toward better communication between the teams, drivers, and the FIA.
In the background of these discussions, Verstappen’s long‑time race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, announced that he will leave Red Bull to join McLaren in 2028. Lambiase has been the Dutchman’s sole permanent engineer since they first teamed up in 2016, and Verstappen has previously warned that he would consider quitting the sport if he lost that partnership. Nonetheless, Verstappen insisted that Lambiase’s departure is unrelated to his own future plans.
"We have a very honest and open relationship, so that was all good. I wish him all the best and for me there was no hard feelings on that," he explained. The driver also admitted that finding a new engineer with the same chemistry will be challenging.
"The general understanding that we have with each other, and the chemistry works really well. That's very rare in racing. You don't see that often that a driver and engineer, they gel that well together.
That's something that I'll have to try and find again. It's not that easy but sometimes, of course, that happens," he told Sky Sports F1, half‑joking that he would be "an idiot" to try and keep Lambiase after the lucrative offer he received from McLaren.
Beyond the technical and personnel issues, Verstappen’s schedule is packed. He will compete in the Miami Sprint weekend, which includes practice sessions, a sprint race, and the main Grand Prix. The event also features a full programme of Formula 2 support races, with practice, qualifying, and feature races spread across Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Fans can watch the action live on Sky Sports F1 or stream it via NOW, which offers a contract‑free option.
In summary, Verstappen is adopting a patient stance. He acknowledges the frustration caused by the new regulations and the modest start to the 2026 season, but he also recognises the hard work being done by Red Bull’s engineers and the potential for significant rule changes next year. With his race engineer’s imminent departure adding another variable, the Dutch champion says he will continue to evaluate his situation as the season unfolds, keeping his options open while focusing on delivering the best possible performance on the track.