Max Verstappen has made it clear that he is not rushing any decision about his long‑term plans in Formula 1. The Dutch champion, who has hinted at the possibility of stepping away from the sport, emphasized that he still has plenty of time to weigh his options. His comments came after the final race of the opening round in Japan, where he voiced frustration with the new technical regulations that have left Red Bull trailing at the start of the 2026 campaign.
In the weeks following the Japanese Grand Prix, Verstappen has been occupied with a variety of activities beyond the F1 calendar. He spent time at Germany’s legendary Nordschleife, preparing for a 24‑hour endurance event scheduled for May.
When asked by Sky Italy whether a resurgence in Red Bull’s performance might sway his thinking, the champion replied that the team is currently a little further behind than they were last year, and that his own feelings remain unchanged. “What I said in Japan still stands,” he said, adding that he still has “a lot of time.” Ahead of the Miami Grand Prix, Verstappen reiterated his desire to stay put for the moment. "I just want to be here," he explained, noting that the team has been working hard on car upgrades. He stressed that the next step is to see how those updates perform on track, especially given that other manufacturers are also developing their own solutions.
"I hope we can escape the midfield battle and move further up the order," he added, hoping for a stronger showing in the upcoming races. At present, Verstappen sits ninth in the Drivers’ Championship and has not finished in the top five in any of the first three rounds. While his results have been modest, he has consistently pointed to the regulatory environment as the primary source of his disappointment, rather than a lack of performance from Red Bull.
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, reduced opportunities for super‑clipping, and changes to boost modes after Oliver Bearman’s dramatic crash in Japan. Despite these changes, Verstappen described the new measures as merely a "tickle"—insufficient to restore the high‑speed, full‑throttle racing that fans and drivers crave.
He expressed hope that more substantial reforms could be implemented for the 2027 season. "We had some constructive meetings with the FIA and Formula 1," he said, "and that could be a starting point for the future.
Even if I’m not around in a few years, I want future drivers to have a stronger voice in shaping the sport." Verstappen also reflected on the broader challenges of Formula 1, describing it as a complex and political arena where incremental changes are often the norm. He praised the recent dialogue between drivers and organisers, calling it a "huge step forward" in communication, even if the actual technical adjustments felt modest.
In a parallel development, 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 their partnership began in 2016, and the driver once warned that he would consider retirement if he lost that relationship. However, Verstappen stressed that Lambiase’s departure is unrelated to his own future plans.
"We have an honest and open relationship, and I wish him all the best," the champion said, adding that there are no hard feelings. The driver also joked that trying to retain Lambiase after the lucrative offer from McLaren would be "idiotic," acknowledging that finding a new engineer with the same chemistry will be a challenge.
"The understanding and chemistry we share is rare in racing," Verstappen noted. "I’ll have to look for that again, and it’s not easy, but sometimes it happens." Looking ahead, the Miami weekend will feature a full sprint format as the 2026 season resumes.
The schedule includes F2 practice sessions, sprint races, and the main Grand Prix, all broadcast on Sky Sports. Fans can also stream the action via NOW without a long‑term contract. In summary, Verstappen’s message is one of patience and measured optimism. He acknowledges the team’s current struggles under the new regulations, but he also believes that Red Bull’s engineering efforts and forthcoming upgrades could improve their competitiveness.
While he remains open to the possibility of leaving Formula 1, he stresses that no immediate decision has been made and that he will continue to compete as long as the circumstances feel right. The upcoming races, especially the Miami Grand Prix, will provide further insight into whether the team can close the performance gap and whether Verstappen’s long‑term commitment to the sport will endure.