Max Verstappen has made it clear that he is not rushing any decision about his long‑term place in Formula 1. The Red Bull star, who has hinted at the possibility of stepping away from the sport, said he is still weighing his options and will move at his own pace. His comments came after the Japanese Grand Prix at the end of March, where Verstappen suggested that the new technical regulations and a sluggish start to Red Bull's 2026 campaign were making him contemplate an exit.
Since then the Dutch champion has been relatively quiet on the subject, noting that there is "nothing new" to add because his focus has been elsewhere. He has been busy preparing for a 24‑hour endurance race at the legendary Nürburgring Nordschleife in Germany, an event that will test his stamina and adaptability ahead of the upcoming Miami Grand Prix. "I still have time and I'm taking my time," Verstappen told reporters before the Miami weekend.
When Sky Italy asked whether a sudden improvement in Red Bull's performance would sway his thinking, he replied that the team is currently a little further behind than they were last season. "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 added.
Verstappen emphasized that his primary aim is to stay competitive and help his team close the gap to the midfield. "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 explained. He hopes Red Bull can break out of the current midfield battle and climb back toward the front of the grid. At the moment Verstappen sits ninth in the Drivers' Championship and has not finished within the top five in any of the first three races of the 2026 season.
He has repeatedly pointed out that his frustration stems more from the regulatory environment than from Red Bull's on‑track performance. The FIA has introduced a series of tweaks to the power‑unit rules for the remainder of the season, aiming to promote "flat‑out" driving.
These changes include tighter limits on energy harvesting and deployment, which should reduce the amount of "super‑clipping"—the practice of slowing on a straight to recharge the battery—and curb excessive lifting and coasting. Adjustments were also made to the boost modes after Oliver Bearman's dramatic crash in Japan, where he had to take extreme measures to avoid a collision with Franco Colapinto.
Despite these adjustments, Verstappen described the new measures as merely a "tickle" and said they fall short of delivering the kind of pure, high‑speed racing fans crave. "I just hope for next year we can make really big changes," he said, expressing optimism that the sport will evolve more dramatically in the future. He also highlighted the positive dialogue that has taken place between the teams and the FIA. "The positive thing about it is we had some nice meetings with Formula 1 and the FIA.
That's probably like a starting point hopefully for the future," Verstappen noted. Looking ahead, he hopes that drivers will 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.
Verstappen acknowledged that Formula 1 is a complex, politically charged environment, and while the recent rule tweaks are a step forward, they are only a small nudge. "Of course with the changes that are made, I think it's more like a tickle because at the end of the day, F1 is a very complex and political sport. But I think everyone has tried their best to at least do something, but of course it won't change the world," he added. During the five‑week break since the last race, a surprising development occurred: Verstappen's long‑time race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, announced 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 might quit the sport if he lost that partnership. However, Verstappen stressed that Lambiase's departure has "nothing to do" with 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 said. Verstappen also joked that trying to retain Lambiase would be "an idiot" move given the lucrative offer the 45‑year‑old received from McLaren. He acknowledged the rarity of such a strong driver‑engineer chemistry, noting, "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." Looking ahead to the Miami weekend, the schedule is packed with support series and the main event. On Friday, May 1, F2 practice begins at 2:35 pm, followed by Miami GP practice at 4:30 pm, F2 qualifying at 7:25 pm, the Team Bosses' press conference at 8:10 pm, and Sprint qualifying at 8:40 pm. Saturday, May 2, features F2 sprint at 2:55 pm, the build‑up to the Miami Sprint at 4 pm, the sprint itself at 5 pm, and the sprint qualifying session later in the evening.
Sunday, May 3, includes the F2 feature race at 5:25 pm, the Grand Prix build‑up at 7 pm, the Miami Grand Prix at 9 pm, and post‑race reaction and analysis throughout the night. In summary, Verstappen remains patient about his future, focusing on the immediate task of helping Red Bull improve its car under the new regulations while also advocating for broader changes that could make Formula 1 more exciting for drivers and fans alike. He acknowledges the challenges posed by the current rule set, the importance of strong team relationships, and the need for continued dialogue with the sport's governing bodies. All of these factors will influence his decision as the season progresses, but for now, he is content to take things one race at a time.