Max Verstappen has made it clear that he is not in a hurry to decide whether to continue racing in Formula 1. The Dutch champion, who has hinted at the possibility of stepping away from the sport following a disappointing start to the 2026 campaign, says he is taking a measured approach and will let the situation develop before making any final call. In the wake of the Japanese Grand Prix at the end of March, Verstappen sparked speculation when he suggested that the new technical regulations were contributing to his frustration and that he was contemplating retirement. The comments came as Red Bull’s performance lagged behind expectations at the beginning of the season, leaving the team in a weaker position than they enjoyed last year.
Since then, the champion has been relatively quiet on the subject. When asked by Sky Italy ahead of the Miami Grand Prix whether a sudden improvement in Red Bull’s pace would sway his decision, Verstappen replied that the team is currently "a little bit further behind" than they were in 2023. He added that his own thoughts remain unchanged from what he said in Japan, but emphasized that he still has plenty of time to evaluate his options.
"I still have time and I’m taking my time," he told reporters before the race weekend in Miami. "I just want to be here. The team has worked really hard on upgrades for the car, so we have to wait and see what they can deliver.
I have no idea what the other teams are bringing to the table either." Verstappen also expressed a desire to break out of the midfield battle that has characterized the early part of the season. "I hope we can get out of the midfield and move up the order," he said, underscoring his ambition to fight for podiums again. At the moment, 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 consistently pointed to the regulatory changes – rather than Red Bull’s overall package – as the main source of his disappointment.
The FIA recently tweaked the power‑unit regulations for the remainder of the season in an effort to promote more "flat‑out" driving. The adjustments include tighter limits on energy harvesting and deployment, which are intended to reduce the amount of time cars spend slowing down on straights to recharge their batteries. The changes also aim to curb "lifting and coasting" and to lower closing speeds, making overtaking easier and racing more exciting.
Additional revisions to the boost‑mode settings were introduced after Oliver Bearman’s dramatic crash in Japan, which forced him to take extreme measures to avoid a collision with Franco Colapinto. Despite these modifications, Verstappen described the new rules as merely a "tickle" – a small, insufficient tweak that does not fundamentally address the need for more aggressive, full‑throttle racing. "It’s not what we need to make it flat‑out," he said, adding that he hopes for "really big changes" next year. He praised recent dialogue between the sport’s governing bodies and the drivers, calling it a promising starting point for future improvements.
"Even in a few years, maybe when I’m not around any more, I hope drivers will have a stronger voice with the organisers," Verstappen remarked. "We have a good feel for what makes Formula 1 a fun product, and that communication is a huge step forward." Verstappen also acknowledged the complexity and politics of the sport, noting that while everyone is trying to make progress, the impact of the current changes will be limited. "It’s more like a tickle. At the end of the day, F1 is a very complex and political sport," he said.
"Everyone has tried their best to do something, but it won’t change the world overnight." During the five‑week break since the Japanese round, Verstappen’s long‑time race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, announced that he will leave Red Bull to join McLaren in 2028. Lambiase has been Verstappen’s sole permanent engineer since they first teamed up in 2016, and the driver previously warned that he would consider quitting the sport if he lost that partnership.
However, Verstappen stressed that Lambiase’s departure does not influence his own future plans. "We have a very honest and open relationship, so that was all good. I wish him all the best and there are no hard feelings," Verstappen explained. "As a team we always look to the future, we want to innovate and improve, and that’s what we’re doing right now." The driver also admitted that trying to replace Lambiase would be a challenge.
"The chemistry between a driver and an engineer is rare in racing. It’s something I’ll have to try and find again. It’s not easy, but sometimes it happens," he said, adding that staying with a new engineer would be "an idiot move" given the lucrative offer Lambiase received from McLaren. Looking ahead, Verstappen’s schedule includes a busy weekend in Miami, with practice sessions, sprint qualifying, and the main Grand Prix all set to be broadcast on Sky Sports.
The Dutchman will also be competing in the Nürburgring Nordschleife later in May as preparation for a 24‑hour endurance race, further illustrating his desire to keep his options open and stay active across different forms of motorsport. In summary, Verstappen is adopting a patient stance on his Formula 1 future.
While he remains dissatisfied with the current rule changes and the team’s early‑season performance, he emphasizes that he still has ample time to assess the situation, watch the car’s development, and consider his next steps. The driver’s comments reflect both a personal commitment to the sport and a broader hope that future regulatory reforms will restore the high‑speed, wheel‑to‑wheel excitement that fans and drivers alike crave.