Max Verstappen Keeps F1 Guessing: Red Bull Racing, Rivals -- Or Retirement?

Last Updated:January 18, 2026, 17:04 IST

Verstappen weighs his future with Red Bull as Ferrari, Mercedes and Aston Martin circle, hinting at possible retirement before 2029 if new rules do not appeal.

Max Verstappen (X)

Max Verstappen isn’t panicking about the future. If anything, he sounds almost too calm.

With Ferrari, Mercedes and Aston Martin circling — and the next big rules reset looming — the four-time world champion has made it clear that the upcoming season could shape what comes next, both inside Formula 1 and beyond it.

This year is widely viewed as a turning point. Verstappen will judge not only Red Bull’s new RB22 but also how teams are positioning themselves for the 2026 regulation overhaul. Staying in Milton Keynes remains his preference, but it’s no longer a foregone conclusion.

Red Bull has been Verstappen’s home for nearly a decade, yet even he admits that comfort alone won’t decide his future. The Dutchman knows he holds all the cards — and the paddock knows it too.

Last season, Aston Martin briefly looked like a genuine threat to lure Verstappen away, before Mercedes entered the conversation in earnest. Well-placed whispers suggested he was close to backing Lawrence Stroll’s long-term vision, only for attention to later swing toward Toto Wolff and Brackley.

In the end, Verstappen stuck with Red Bull — a decision that made sense with uncertainty around the incoming rules.

But that choice isn’t locked in forever.

“It will be a crucial season, yes," Verstappen told De Telegraaf. “But I’m probably the most relaxed person of all. Whatever happens, I’ll be fine."

Then came the line that made headlines.

“There’s also the possibility that I decide to say goodbye to everyone and retire, even before 2029, if I don’t like the new rules. That would be the most extreme scenario."

Still, Verstappen was quick to stress where his heart currently sits.

“My goal is to stay at Red Bull," he said. “I feel good with the team, and that matters a lot. But many things have to come together. It’s not just about F1."

That last point is key. Verstappen no longer sounds driven purely by trophies or statistics. He’s weighing enjoyment, competition, and life beyond the cockpit.

If the RB22 delivers and the long-term project convinces him, Verstappen could stay put. If not, F1 may be staring at either a blockbuster transfer or the sport’s most dominant driver choosing to walk away at the height of his powers.

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