Max Verstappen has made it clear that he is not rushing any decision about his future in Formula 1. The Dutch champion, who hinted at the possibility of stepping away from the sport after the Japanese Grand Prix in late March, reiterated that he still has plenty of time to consider his options.
At the time, Verstappen had expressed frustration with the new technical regulations that have hampered Red Bull’s start to the 2026 season, and he even floated the idea that he might quit if things did not improve. Since then, the seven‑time world champion has been busy with a variety of commitments beyond the Formula 1 calendar. He recently took part in a high‑speed run at Germany’s legendary Nordschleife, using the experience to prepare for a 24‑hour endurance race scheduled for May.
When asked by Sky Italy whether a sudden surge in Red Bull’s performance would sway his decision, Verstappen answered that the team is currently a little behind where they were last year, and that his own thoughts remain unchanged from what he said in Japan. "I still have time and I’m taking my time," he told reporters ahead of the Miami Grand Prix weekend. "I just want to be here.
The team has worked extremely hard on car upgrades, so we need to wait and see what they can deliver. I have no idea what the other teams are bringing, either." Verstappen, who sits ninth in the Drivers’ Championship after failing to crack the top five in the opening three rounds, emphasized that his biggest irritation stems from the regulatory framework rather than Red Bull’s on‑track performance. The FIA has introduced a series of tweaks to the power‑unit rules for the rest of the season, aiming to encourage more "flat‑out" driving. These adjustments include tighter limits on energy harvesting and deployment, which should reduce the need for drivers to slow down on straights to recharge the battery – a practice known as "super‑clipping" – and also curb the amount of lifting and coasting that currently keeps closing speeds relatively low.
Additional changes to the boost modes were prompted by Oliver Bearman’s dramatic crash in Japan, where he had to take extreme measures to avoid a collision with Franco Colapinto. Despite these measures, Verstappen described the new rules as merely a "tickle" – a small, insufficient nudge rather than the sweeping overhaul needed to restore truly aggressive racing.
He expressed hope that next year will bring more substantial reforms, noting that recent meetings with the FIA and Formula 1 officials have at least opened a dialogue. "It’s a positive step that we’ve had some constructive conversations with the governing bodies," he said. "Even if I’m not around in a few years, I want future drivers to have a stronger voice in shaping the sport.
We have a good feel for what makes F1 entertaining, and that insight should be fed back into the decision‑making process." Verstappen also reflected on the political and technical complexity of Formula 1, acknowledging that while the recent tweaks are a start, they will not revolutionise the sport overnight. "F1 is a very complex and political environment," he remarked. "Everyone has tried to do something, but we won’t see a world‑changing shift instantly." In the background of these discussions, a notable development has occurred within Red Bull’s engineering team.
During the five‑week break between races, 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 once declared that he would consider retiring if he lost that partnership. Nonetheless, Verstappen stressed that Lambiase’s departure does not influence his own career plans. "We have a very honest and open relationship, so I wish him all the best and there are no hard feelings," the champion said.
"As a team we always look to the future, we keep innovating and improving – that’s what we’re doing right now." The driver even half‑joked that trying to retain Lambiase would be "idiotic" given the lucrative offer the 45‑year‑old received from McLaren. He acknowledged that finding a new engineer with the same chemistry will be challenging. "The understanding and chemistry between a driver and an engineer is rare in racing.
It’s something I’ll have to try and find again, and it’s not easy," Verstappen explained to Sky Sports F1. Looking ahead, the Miami weekend will feature a sprint format as the 2026 season resumes. The schedule includes F2 practice sessions, the Miami GP practice, sprint qualifying, and the main Grand Prix on Sunday night. Fans can watch the action live on Sky Sports F1 and stream the coverage via NOW without a contract, cancelling at any time.
In summary, Max Verstappen remains patient about his future in Formula 1. While he is dissatisfied with the current regulatory direction and the team’s relative performance dip, he trusts that Red Bull’s development work and ongoing dialogue with the FIA will eventually produce a more exciting product.
Until then, he is focused on the upcoming races, the relationship with his engineering crew, and the broader goal of helping shape a better, more driver‑centric sport for the generations to come.