Verstappen: I won’t drive until I’m 40 in Formula 1

THE Max Verstappen stated once again that he is not sure that he will drive in Formula 1 for many more years. His contract with Red Bull expires at the end of 2028, when he will be 31, and the Dutchman has increasingly expressed his frustration with how the sport is changing.

He was critical of the new format of sprint racing, with the increasing number of races per season putting extra pressure on Verstappen and the other drivers.

I love racing, otherwise I wouldn’t be in the simulator driving other cars, but this is just the thing. I like to drive in other types of races, not just F1. I know I’ll be 31 when my Red Bull contract ends, but I’ve been in F1 for a long time and it’s a lot of work to do.

You travel a lot, not only for the races, but at the same time you have to go to the factory and to marketing events. I am a person who likes to be at home. I like to be competitive, I like to win, but if you can’t motivate and motivate yourself to go to every race, then that’s where you have to question yourself and what you want and wondering if you really want to continue. I love Le Mans, I love participating in 24 hour races. I love watching the GT3 racing lap the Nurburgring Nordschleife.

All these things I want to experience in my life, and I don’t want to do them when I’m 40 or 50, because then I won’t be at my peak. But when I’m 31, I’m sure I’ll still be capable of great things. We’ll see. It also depends on how competitive we will be here [Formula 1] in 2028. There are still many question marks.

I don’t want, when I’m that age, to be traveling to 25 games a year and on top of that traveling to the UK for simulator work or doing an appearance or engagement here and there because of marketing commitments.

There’s just too much to think about. I started driving when I was four and a half years old, racing at seven. At some point I think it’s enough if you’re missing [από το σπίτι σου] for so long. I have been in F1 since I was 17. Now I’m 25. However, if Red Bull continues to dominate, it will be very difficult to leave Formula 1.

At the same time, the Dutchman said he would only consider leaving Red Bull if there was a place available in a faster car.

People always ask me if I have a dream team. I know Ferrari has an amazing history in Formula 1 and is an amazing team to race for, but I always told myself that I just want to be in the fastest car.

I had to wait a few years to be in the fastest car and now we have the fastest car and that’s a great feeling. At this stage, if it happens, it happens, but I’m very happy where I am and for me personally, the desire to drive for a certain team at all costs is not there.

[Εξαρτάται] how things will go here, but right now I’m very happy, no debate. However some people may be in different scenarios [από τα δικά μου]there is that possibility, I don’t know.