Max Verstappen is going through one of the most difficult moments of his Formula 1 career, but he made it clear that he doesn’t want compassion for that reason. The Red Bull Racing driver stated that he will be fine regardless of the future, even in the face of a complicated start to the season and the possibility of retirement.
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After three rounds, the four-time champion occupies only ninth position in the championship, still without finishing in the top five. With only twelve points scored, the Dutchman is in an unusual situation, trailing names like Pierre Gasly, from Alpine, and Oliver Bearman, from Haas.
The discreet performance includes a sixth place in the Australian GP and an eighth in the Japanese GP. In China, Verstappen did not score points after finishing outside the points zone in the Sprint race and retiring from the GP due to a leak in the cooling system.
In addition to the poor results, the RB22 has proven difficult to drive, aggravating the driver’s frustration. Since pre-season testing, Verstappen has openly criticized Formula 1’s new technical rules, even stating that he didn’t enjoy a single lap with the new cars.
In an interview with BBC Sport, the Dutchman stated that he has to force himself to give 100% in some situations, something he described as ‘not very healthy’. The driver also once again mentioned the possibility of leaving the category, with a potential exit at the end of 2026 emerging as an option.
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Verstappen highlighted that he has other projects outside of Formula 1, especially linked to GT racing: “I have many other projects that I am passionate about. GT3 racing, not just racing, but also with the team. It’s very good to build that and I want to expand in the coming years,” he said.
The Dutchman also emphasized that he will remain active even outside of F1: “It’s not like I’ll stop here and not do anything. I’ll always have fun, and I’ll also have fun in many other things in my life,” he added.
Despite the difficult moment, Verstappen guaranteed that he doesn’t need compassion: “It’s a bit sad that we’re talking about this, but it is what it is. You don’t need to feel sorry for me. I’ll be fine,” he said, further suggesting that changes in Formula 1 rules could influence his decision about the future. “They know what to do,” he concluded.
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